77* 



<@eAyi,y/,t *=M.. 

UNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. 



OUTLINE 

OF A 

WORK OF GRACE 
NEW BRUNSWICK. 



OUTLINE 

or a 

WORK OF GRACE 



IN THE 



PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION 

AT 

NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., 

DURING THE YEAR 1837. 

^7§*s 1871 M 
^v^fe 

BY JOSEPH H. JONES, 

Pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. 



PHILADELPHIA : 
HENRY PERKINS, 134 CHESTNUT ST. 
BOSTON: PERKINS # MARVIN. 
1839. 




Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1839, by 
HENRY PERKINS, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



I. Ashmead & Co., Printers. 




LC 



Control 



Number 



111 



029082 



TO THE MEMBERS OF 
THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION IN NEW BRUNSWICK, 

THIS IMPERFECT SKETCH OF A WORK OF GRACE, 
IN WHICH 

WE WERE PERMITTED TO LABOUR AND REJOICE TOGETHER, 
IS INSCRIBED, 

WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL KINDLY REGARD IT 
AS A TESTIMONIAL 
THAT THEY ARE STILL REMEMBERED 
WITH THE LIVELIEST AND MOST TENDER AFFECTION, 
BY THEIR LATE PASTOR. 



The suggestion which led to the pre- 
sent publication was made by a friend, 
whose kind counsel is contained in the 
following letter. 

Princeton, January 30, 1839. 
Rev. and dear brother, 

Will you forgive me for again repeat- 
ing a request in which I feel no small in- 
terest, and which I know to be interesting 
to many others. You will remember that 
I have, heretofore, more than once, urged 
you to give to the public some account of 



viii 



the happy and precious revival of reli- 
gion which occurred under your ministry, 
at New Brunswick, in 1837. No particu- 
lar account, so far as I know, of that me- 
morable display of the power and grace 
of God has ever yet been given. Why 
has it been withheld? Is not a full and 
faithful record of it highly desirable 1 
Nay, is it not really a debt due to your- 
self, to the Church of which you were 
so long the pastor, and, above all, to the 
cause of vital religion there and else- 
where 1 I scarcely know, as I have al- 
ready told you, how to justify the omission 
of this duty for so long a time. It is pos- 
sible, indeed, that some advantages may 
result from having delayed until now the 
preparation of the proposed history. That 
fervour of feeling which the occasion 



ix 

generated, has, in a good measure, passed 
away, and left all parties in that calm 
state which is favourable to an impartial 
exhibition of the subject. Sufficient time 
has also elapsed to enable you to make a 
more accurate estimate of the genuine 
fruits of the revival in question, than would 
have been, perhaps, practicable eighteen 
months ago. But I do hope you will no 
longer delay the performance of a ser- 
vice which appears to me so obviously 
demanded, and so likely to be solidly 
useful. 

There is one question which you may, 
possibly be better able to answer now, 
than you were during the delightful ex- 
citement of that memorable scene. And 
that is, whether the solemn dispensations 
of Providence, experienced by the in- 



X 



habitants of New Brunswick some time 
before, had any perceptible connexion 
with the spiritual benefit then enjoyed 1 
I refer to the severe visit of cholera which 
you suffered in 1832, and the tremendous 
tornado, which did so much mischief in 
1835. I have for many years taken much 
interest in the inquiry, whether seasons of 
great sickness and mortality, and other 
extraordinary and overwhelming seasons 
of temporal calamity, are ordinarily em- 
ployed by a sovereign God as a means of 
reviving religion. Every new fact, either 
for or against the affirmative of this ques- 
tion, is highly interesting to me. 

By the way, a few days ago, I was 
conversing with an intelligent and pious 
friend on a subject which led us to advert 
to the wonderful and destructive tornado 



xi 



above alluded to. He wished some ac- 
count of it. I could only describe it very 
imperfectly; and was obliged to say, that 
I knew of no satisfactory or well-drawn 
history of that awful event. Is it right to 
permit the memory of such things to 
perish, or to be preserved in no other 
record than that of imperfect and un- 
certain tradition] I do not feel prepared, 
my dear sir, to suggest a plan : but if you 
should give some account of the blessed 
season of " refreshing from the presence 
of the Lord" w r ith which you w 7 ere fa- 
voured, could you not, either in some 
preliminary pages, or, perhaps, still better, 
in some appendix, to the special narrative, 
which will be your primary object, annex 
such an account of the awful dispensa- 
tions alluded to, as would enable your 



xii 



readers to judge of their character and 
of their connexion, if any, with the sub- 
sequent blessing ? 

I hope you will not put a negative 
upon this request. I know by experience 
the unceasing demands upon every mo- 
ment presented by a city charge. But I 
am persuaded that, by redeeming time 
enough to prepare a little volume w 7 hich 
shall contain what I have suggested, you 
will gratify many friends, both in New 
Brunswick as well as elsewhere; and, I 
think I may add, none more than 
Your sincere friend 

And brother in Christ, 

Samuel Miller. 

To the Rev. Joseph H. Jones, ~) 
Philadelphia. 5 



OUTLINE. 



I. 

The ensuing narrative of a work of 
grace in Xew Brunswick, is little more 
than a transcript of notes which were 
made during its progress, and which have 
been hitherto withheld for reasons that 
will readily occur to every judicious friend 
of revivals. If to some the delay may 
seem long, it has been from a desire to 
avoid the more common error of being 
premature. 

The earliest evidence to any of the pas- 
tors of the churches in the city that there 
was such an increased desire of religious 
instruction as to call for a multiplication 
of the means, was noticed in the latter 
part of April, 1837. A series of meetings 
then commenced in the Baptist Church, 

B 



14 



which in their progress were accompa- 
nied with attestations of the presence of 
the Spirit in no ordinary measure. 

Previous to this, however, for months, 
there had been in many of the churches 
encouraging " tokens for good." These 
were recognized in the thickening of the 
religious assembly, and especially of the 
more private and social meetings during 
the week ; and in the manifest increase of 
solemn devotional feeling as evinced, not 
only by the countenances, but in the 
prayers of the worshipers. The impres- 
sion on the public mind was evidently 
becoming wider and deeper every day ; 
and now the hopes of the devout of diffe- 
rent denominations were sanguine that 
their prayers for a general blessing were 
to be answered. The religious meetings 
among the Baptists were continued more 
than three weeks, and were blessed to 
many of other congregations as well as 
their own. Conversions were now daily 



15 



reported, without limitation to the mem- 
bers of either, and so blended is the work 
in many of its characteristics, that it is a 
task of scarcely less difficulty than deli- 
cacy to furnish a narrative of a part with- 
out interweaving some things which might 
more properly be reported by others. 
That the present record, therefore, is re- 
stricted principally to what the Spirit 
wrought in a single denomination, is not 
because it was more signal in its charac- 
ter or its results, than in others. But, 
while we sympathized in the joys of sister 
churches, had the privilege of sharing 
with them the blessings of the revival, 
and bear cheerful testimony to their zeal 
and untiring labours during its progress, 
yet, we think it proper that the details of 
the work among the respective congrega- 
tions should be left to themselves. 

At the regular meeting of the Presby- 
tery of New Brunswick, which was held 
in April at Boundbrook, a village about 



16 



six miles from New Brunswick, the reports 
of the churches concerning their spiritual 
condition, were peculiarly unfavourable.* 
The aggregate increase of the year had 
not been sufficient to counterbalance the 
decrease ; a fact which was regarded with 
some proper manifestation of sensibility. 
It was a rebuke from the Great Head of 
the church too marked and significant to 
be overlooked or to be left unheeded. 

It was solemnly resolved, therefore, 
after suitable deliberation, that, as a Pres- 
bytery we would seek by repentance, 
humiliation, and prayer, a removal of the 
cause of the divine displeasure; and, as 
a proper means to this end, a day of fast- 
ing and prayer was appointed to be ob- 
served by them as a Presbytery, at the 
city of New Brunswick, in the early part 
of June. 

This information was received with 
lively interest by the church with whom 

* Appendix A, 



17 



it was proposed to meet, and furnished a 
new motive for self-examination, watch- 
fulness, and prayer, as a means of prepa- 
ration to receive such a visit with advan- 
tage. But before the time for this meeting 
had arrived, the desire to " hear the 
word," had so much increased, that it was 
deemed expedient to have another public 
service. Our first experiment made it 
plain that the amount of feeling in the 
congregation had been underrated. The 
house in which we thought it best to com- 
mence, though large enough to hold from 
three to four hundred, was found too 
small to receive more than three fourths 
of those who were anxious to hear. 

The time had now manifestly come for 
opening the church, which was entered 
shortly after, when a series of meetings 
was instituted. These, during the first four 
days were held three times on each, and 
afterwards only in the evening, when a 
sermon was preached, which was some- 
b2 



18 



times, though not invariably, followed by 
a short address. 

By means of the assistance which was 
very kindly rendered to the pastor in such 
an exigency, these evening exercises were 
sustained without intermission until the 
month of September. Other congrega- 
tions in the mean time were not less dili- 
gent in labour, which was crowned with 
the most encouraging success. Scenes 
were witnessed from day to day both in 
private families and in our public assem- 
blies, which were the cause of rejoicing 
in heaven as well as on earth. No pen 
or tongue can adequately describe the 
marvels which were wrought by the 
Spirit in changes that then occurred, and 
which we have thus far increasing rea- 
sons to believe were radical and un- 
feigned. 

And while it has been my desire to pre- 
pare such a record of this great event as 
shall give the Christian community a cor- 



19 



rectly drawn outline; yet, none but those 
who were present mingling in the assem- 
blies and partaking in the divine influences 
that pervaded them, can form any proper 
conception of what was wrought by God 
in the revival at New Brunswick* To give 
a full account of all that might be narra- 
ted which is suited to interest the Chris- 
tian public, would require an extended 
volume. In the present account nothing 
more will be attempted than to describe 
some of the prominent features of this 
work, which have continued hitherto, and 
which we may confidently hope will prove 
to be permanent. 

And the first which may properly be 
noticed, is, its extent. It was not confin- 
ed to any one church or denomination, 
but its influences were felt more or less 
by nearly all. 

Like Nineveh and Samaria, the whole 
population seemed for a season to be 
moved ; so that it was comparatively rare 



20 



to find an individual who was not prepar- 
ed to listen with interest to the subject of 
personal religion. Even some who affect- 
ed great indifference, and like the skeptics 
on the day of Pentecost, were willing to 
ascribe the " no small stir " in our city to 
natural causes, betrayed more disquie- 
tude to others than they supposed them- 
selves to feel. 

Repeated instances occurred in which 
the scorner was rebuked by his compan- 
ion, and before the close of the work 
scores became its subjects who treated 
it with much levity at the beginning. 
" These people are sincere," said one 
to a very thoughtless associate who had 
made some irreverent remark, " and I 
hope that it may be as well with us here- 
after, as I believe it will be with them." 

At the close of the exercises on a Sab- 
bath afternoon, the writer took notice that 
a well informed young man, apparently 
18 or 20 years of age, lingered near 



21 



the door of the church, as if desirous of 
making himself known. On coming out 
of the pulpit he approached and requested 
the privilege of a short conversation. " I 
wish to tell you," said he, " what God has 
done for my soul. Last Wednesday I 
was invited to attend a meeting for pray- 
er which was conducted by young men. 
Up to that time I had been for years a 
disbeliever in the Christian religion. I did 
not, however, refuse to attend the meet- 
ing, thinking that I should find some en- 
tertainment in its novelty. But on enter- 
ing the room the spectacle of such a 
number kneeling devoutly, while one in a 
solemn and subdued voice was the organ 
of the assembly, caused emotions which I 
never felt before, and which I am unable 
to describe. I am now resolved that so 
long as God shall spare my life, it shall 
be devoted to the service of that Saviour 
whom I have hitherto dishonoured and 
rejected." 



22 



At another time an intelligent educated 
man of about five and twenty, called at 
my house, in the deepest distress of mind, 
which was manifested by his countenance 
and tears, as well as conversation. The 
change in his feelings was not less sur- 
prising to himself than to every body else* 
There was something in his character 
and temperament and habits which was 
suited to produce a common opinion that 
few persons in society were less liable to 
religious impression than he. On enter- 
ing the room he was greatly agitated, and 
with difficult utterance he observed' that 
a day or two before he had gone to the 
church with the strongest feelings of op- 
position, and for the express purpose of 
making merry at what he should see and 
hear. But upon entering the house, the 
whole current of his thoughts and exer- 
cises became changed. The preacher 
seemed clothed with the dignity and au- 
thority of an angel of God, and his words 



23 



came home to his conscience with power. 
Never before had his eyes been opened 
to see his true condition as a sinner, and 
now he feared that the discovery was 
made too late. At a subsequent visit, 
however, not many days after, I saw his 
face animated and cheerful — his burden 
had been removed — he trusted he had be- 
come a partaker of the hopes of a Chris- 
tian, which in due time was proclaimed 
by him in a public profession. 

These two cases are mentioned as spe- 
cimens of many not less striking, which 
occurred within the writer's personal ob- 
servation, illustrating the change which 
was wrought upon those who were known 
to have regarded the revival at first w 7 ith 
incredulity and scorn. 

Another feature of this work of grace 
which is worthy of notice, w T as, the pre- 
vailing manner in which the Spirit ope- 
rated. Its descent upon the people was 
like dew. Our daily assemblies both so- 



24 



cial and public, exhibited all the stillness 
and staid devotion of an ordinary Sabbath- 
day congregation. There were no audi- 
ble sighings nor exclamations, no demon- 
strations of grief, or of transport that 
could not be controlled, nothing irregu- 
lar or extravagant, but every eye seemed 
fixed upon the preacher, the countenance 
solemn, evincing the powerful workings 
of the spirit within. Sometimes, howe- 
ver, the emotions of the newly-awakened 
sinner, as well as of the new convert, seem- 
ed too strong to be repressed on retiring 
to their home. Tears both of sorrow and 
of joy were profusely shed; and in the 
intensity of their feeling they could not 
sleep, and forgot to eat their bread. 

At a late hour one evening the writer 
was solicited to visit a household, in cir- 
cumstances so peculiar, as to overcome 
their reluctance to make this request at 
so unseasonable a time. 

The night was clear and calm and 



25 

pleasant; scarcely another footstep was 
heard in the street ; and a lighted window 
only here and there, showed that most had 
retired to rest. The scene which was 
exhibited on entering the door, I do not 
attempt to portray. Salvation had come 
to this house,, and two of its members 
were weeping immoderately for joy, a 
joy which was utterable only by tears. 
The time of the visit, the cause, the no- 
velty, the solemnity, the passionate excla- 
mations of delight, accompanied with 
sobbings that were almost convulsive, 
combined to produce emotions which it 
is impossible to describe. 

In most cases the visible change was 
gradual, though more or less rapid in its 
progress. Some were able to refer to the 
very moment when they supposed them- 
selves to have passed from death unto life, 
while many others, whose evidences of 
grace were not less satisfactory, could on- 
c 



26 



ly say, " whereas we were blind, now we 
see." In very many there was at this 
time only the reviving and maturing of 
convictions which they had first felt many 
years before. The good seed of the word 
had been sown and nurtured bv the ordi- 
nary means, but it " lacked moisture" to 
make it spring up and vegetate. 

Another characteristic of the work de- 
serving of attention is the class of persons 
who were chiefly its subjects. 

And while it comprehended some of 
every age, from childhood up to three 
score years and ten, yet by far the greater 
number were gathered from the young. 
Twelve were from a female Bible-class, 
leaving two or three only, out of forty, 
who did not entertain the Christian hope. 
The impression on the children of the Sab- 
bath school was general. Nearly all were 
more or less affected, for a season, by the 
truth: and although their religion, in many 
cases, proved too much like Ephraim's 



27 



" goodness,"* it was not so in all. Quite 
a number furnished satisfactory evidence 
of a thorough spiritual change, which has 
been evinced ever since by their devout 
and consistent life. A few among them 
of maturer mind and years were admitted 
to the communion of the church; nor is it 
presumptuous to believe that in process of 
time these faded impressions will be re- 
vived, and the incipient work of the Spirit 
in their heart be perfected. About one- 
fourth of those who united with the church 
were heads of families ; one-third, per- 
haps, were males, and the medium of age 
is supposed to be not far from twenty years. 

In some instances all the members of 
a family were thought to be converted ; 
and in one, the subjects of grace were 
two daughters, a son, two apprentices, 
and three relations from abroad, who 
were then on a transient visit. Indeed 



* Hos. vi, 4, 



28 



the cases of hopeful change in those stran- 
gers who were providentially in our city 
at this interesting time, were numerous. 
Among these was a young lady from a 
wealthy family in the remote part of the 
country, who had come from her distant 
home full of gaiety and love of worldly 
pleasure ; others from the cities of New 
York and Trenton, and the villages and 
surrounding country. Of the sixty-five or 
seventy young men who belonged to the 
college, almost every individual for a sea- 
son was more or less impressed ; a good 
proportion retain to the present an hum- 
ble confidence that they were at this time 
the subjects of renewing grace, and some 
have since entered upon a course of theo- 
logical study. 

Another feature of this gracious work, 
too distinguishing to be overlooked, was 
its astonishing power as displayed in ma- 
ny cases of conversion of peculiar inter- 
est To publish a circumstantial ac- 



29 



count of these, however, would lead me 
into details of such a nature as might oc- 
casion pain. It would lift the veil from 
what is deemed by some too sacred and 
personal to be so publicly proclaimed. 
For this reason I shall venture to give 
only such a general description of three 
or four, as exemplifications of that signal 
grace to which I refer, and which it is 
presumed will offend the delicacy of none. 

Among the first attendants on our meet- 
ings for early prayer was one who, from 
his advanced age and many infirmities, 
had been accustomed to spend his morn- 
ings till a very late hour in bed, and the 
remnant of the day in idleness. Without 
occupation or even a desire to be useful, 
this aged man was living without hope 
and without God, until this visit of mercy 
to our city. And now these indolent 
habits were at once reformed, and whether 
the hour of assembling was at five or later, 
none were more habitually present or 
c 2 



eo 



more devotional. But for almost half a 
century few men in society had wandered 
further from the path of rectitude than he; 
a man of intellect and well endowed for 
usefulness, but whose sad perversion of 
his powers had caused the keenest sorrow 
in the hearts of friends, and well nigh ex* 
tinguished all hope of his conversion* 
And yet among the trophies of the Holy 
Spirit was this very man. But without 
entering into the particulars of his case 
or describing all the steps of his progress, 
it is enough to observe that no one could 
furnish more convincing proof of having 
passed from death to life than he. And 
although the exercise of proper Christian 
prudence, and a suitable regard for public 
opinion required that the probation of such 
a convert should be somewhat prolonged, 
yet in due time he was admitted to the 
fellowship of the saints on earth, and not 
long after removed, I doubt not, to the 



31 



communion of "the just made perfect" 
in heaven. 

Another case of surpassing interest 
which it may be proper to notice more 
particularly, was. the conversion of one 
who, though sustaining the character of 
a moral man and a useful citizen, had, 
nevertheless, lived till the meridian of life 
without manifesting a regard for religion 
or its institutions. Till within a short 
period before the revival, he had been 
almost as regularly absent from the house 
of God as his family had been present. 
But in all this time, as he observed after- 
wards, " he had not supposed himself to 
be in such a sinful state as to give him 
the slightest alarm. " He imagined that he 
was quite as good without so much church 
going and so many religious forms as 
others were with them ; nor was he ever 
disturbed by any apprehensions of evil to 
come. 

The first evidence of an impression on 



32 



this man's conscience was noticed in the 
church by some who sat near him, and 
who apprehended that he was unwell, 
perhaps oppressed with the heat or sul- 
triness of the weather. But on going 
home, the same peculiarity in his counte- 
nance and manner was perceived by the 
family, who inquired with some concern 
about his health, to whom he returned 
such an answer as to disclose at once the 
true cause of his apparent indisposition. 

At the meeting of inquirers that even- 
ing, I discovered him as he entered the 
room under the influence of very strong 
emotions which he endeavoured in vain 
to conceal or suppress. On taking him 
by the hand he simply observed with 
confused articulation, " I cannot con- 
verse with you now ;" and I replied 
that I would see him on the ensuing 
day. At this time his sense of sin was 
deep and pungent, but by the succeeding 
morning his exercises had become so ab- 



33 



sorbing and intense that his mind could 
no longer be fixed on his business, and he 
retired to his house and waited with in- 
creasing impatience the fulfilment of the 
promise made at the meeting the evening 
before. A slight attack of disease ren- 
dered it necessary to defer the call till to- 
wards the close of the day, when he was 
found traversing his room in the deepest 
anguish of spirit, full of apprehension that 
his case was so peculiar as to admit of no 
relief. 

"Hitherto," said he, "I have been a 
stranger to myself. I have had no concep- 
tion of the depravity of my heart, or of the 
sinfulness of my conduct in the sight of a 
holy God. I feel the burden of innume- 
rable sins, for which he is justly offended 
with me. I am wretched beyond the 
power of language to express ; nor can I 
imagine how 7 it can ever be otherwise 
w 7 ith me either in this world or in the 
world to come," 



34 



Never in all the writer's acquaintance 
with the operations of grace has he wit- 
nessed a more lively illustration of that 
destruction of hope or of " life" by the 
" coming of the commandment" as de- 
scribed by the apostle in Romans vii. 9, 
10, 11. Here was a person with his eyes 
for the first time opened to see the law — 
its spirituality and claim — with his face 
at the same time averted from the relief 
of the gospel. According to another re- 
presentation of the apostle, here was a 
prisoner convicted of capital crime, hav- 
ing received and acquiesced in his right- 
eous sentence, and now " concluded" or 
kept under the bolts and bars and prison- 
door of the law — " shut up unto" the time 
when he should be released by the key of 
evangelical faith. And have you looked 
into the Bible, said I, to see whether it 
has not some instruction for persons in 
such distressing exigencies as yours ? 
" No," he replied. " I have not been ac- 



35 



customed to read it ; I am a stranger to its 
contents, and at present I feel myself too 
sinful, too unworthy to attempt it." Have 
you then made confession of your sins and 
asked God to forgive them ? " No. I have 
not felt myself worthy; I am too much an 
enemy of God to use this liberty." Shall 
I then take the Bible for you and read a 
few paragraphs and then unite with you 
in prayer 1 Then turning to that part of 
our Saviour's discourse in John xvi. w 7 here 
he sets forth the offices of the Comforter 
in convicting of sin, and of righteousness, 
and of judgment, he was asked whether 
he was not himself "convinced of sin?' 
" That I am," said he. " I have a view 
of the number and greatness of my sins 
which I want words to utter. 5 ' And are 
you not as fully convinced, likewise, that 
you have no " righteousness" of your own ; 
that your best works have been imperfect 
and deserving of condemnation, and that 
in order to be saved you need a better 



36 



righteousness than your own ? " Most 
certainly I am," was his answer. And 
have you any doubt of a "judgment" to 
come; that there will be a day of judg- 
ment, when you and all the world shall be 
judged, and when the wrath of God shall 
be righteously revealed and executed up- 
on all who continue to the end of life as 
you have lived hitherto 1 " No, none," said 
he. " I have no excuse to offer. I have 
sinned wilfully and under light; and if there 
is a just Being in the heavens he ought to 
punish, and must punish, all who are so de- 
serving of his displeasure as I am." It 
would appear, then, that you have some 
evidence of such exercises in relation to 
sin as are produced by the Holy Spirit. 
" I do not know but I have, yet I had not 
thought of it before." Is not this, then, 
encouraging and comforting? This is 
what you have anxiously desired — is it 
not ? to be assured that you have not 
been abandoned of God, and that you have 



not grieved nor quenched his Spirit by 
your sins. Why. then, will you not open 
at once your heart to the Saviour, who 
has begun to prepare the way for his 
coming by sending the Spirit to convince 
you of your need of him. Can you not 
unite with me in prayer for it ! " I think 
I can." 

We then kneeled together in offering a 
few petitions, when on rising he imme- 
diately exclaimed. " I feel better — the load 
is gone/' The change was visible in his 
countenance. The clouds had given place 
to sunshine, and the transition was as "life 
from the dead." Xever did I experience 
such mingled emotions of joy and abase- 
ment; of pleasure combined with awe. The 
Lord was in that place, and the display 
of his sovereign power and grace in this 
immediate answer of prayer was exceed- 
ingly affecting. Like Peter falling at the 
feet of Jesus, after witnessing one of his 
miracles, and exclaiming " depart from 



38 



me for I am a sinful man, Lord," so we 
all felt the place and the time to be ren* 
dered awful by a scene of so much so* 
lemnity. 

I will only add that the lapse of time* 
from that memorable hour to the present, 
has furnished increasing testimony that 
the change which I have thus described, 
was wrought by the power of God, 

I annex but a single example more of 
this marvellous grace in the case of one 
who had been spared in his career of sin 
for more than three-score years. The 
vigour of his manhood had been spent on 
the ocean, during which time he had unre- 
servedly indulged in those sins which the 
displays of God's greatness and power in 
the deep should have caused him to for- 
sake. For many years this man had been 
the commander of a ship, for which his 
nautical skill and his knowledge, both theo- 
retical and practical, rendered him amply 
qualified. The task of governing a vessel? 



39 



however, was one of less difficulty than 
that of controlling himself. So fierce and 
tremendous was his anger, when aroused, 
that he was a terror to all around him. 
For many years he had been a slave 
to intemperance, an open despiser of 
the Bible, its friends and institutions, 
and had hardly been known, from his 
youth up, to enter a house of public wor- 
ship. Few persons in society could be 
more obdurate and reckless ; and yet * is 
anything too hard for the Lord V 9 This 
leopard was made to change his spots. 
Where sin abounded, grace abounded the 
more. From a state of the most despe- 
rate wickedness this extraordinary sinner 
was reclaimed and brought to his right 
mind : and although bending and tottering 
under the weight of much infirmity and 
many years, his mind is still vigorous, 
while his new disposition, new deport- 
ment, and the new spirit which he exhibits 
in his daily intercourse with those around, 



40 



afford convincing testimony that " a man 
can be born again when he is old." What 
things were once gain to him he now 
counts loss for Christ. Whenever his 
health and his multiplied infirmities will 
permit, he is found at the house of God 
on the Sabbath; and at the appointed 
seasons he sits down, clothed and in his 
right mind, at the table of the Lord. 
Other illustrations might be mentioned of 
the surprising power of God in the work 
of conversion, in the reformation of the 
desperately wicked, in restoring peace to 
distracted families, where there had long 
been confusion and tumult, incessant de- 
bate and an occasional separation of its 
members. Nor are the instances few 
in which the rejoicing wife who had 
been unequally yoked for years, dates 
the beginning of her domestic happi- 
ness, within the time of this revival. 
Not individuals only, but families are 



41 



now habitual worshipers in the religious 
assembly on the Sabbath, who were wont 
before to spend this day at the rendezvous 
of kindred spirits, in forgetting God and 
despising his commandments. 

With respect to the 'means which were 
blessed in carrying the work forward it 
will be inferred from the foregoing ac- 
count that they were notpeculiar; that they 
differed from the means of advancing reli- 
gion in ordinary times, only in frequency. 
Our meetings for instruction both public 
and private, as well as those for prayer, 
were multiplied as the occasion required. 
The public service in the evening was 
preceded thrice in a week by a meeting 
for inquirers, which was numerously at- 
tended and which proved to be an auxilia- 
ry to the work of exceeding importance. 
So soon as the subjects of conviction had 
become so numerous that they could not 
be visited at their own dwellings, there 
d 2 



42 



was no other expedient to meet the emer- 
gency but this. It was the dictate of ne- 
cessity. It served, moreover, to secure 
the good which has been so often ascribed 
to the calling out of the awakened to some 
appointed seat in the public assembly, 
without the attending evils. The invitation 
from the pulpit for all those who were de- 
sirous of special instruction, to meet the 
session at the house of the pastor, was 
often heard with great interest. It im- 
mediately caused the inquiry in many a 
disquieted bosom, " Is this addressed to 
me V 9 " Am I desirous of particular re- 
ligious instruction V 9 " Is it right for me 
to attend?" "Would it not be presump- 
tuous to decline?" The mere announ- 
cing of such an opportunity not unfre- 
quently stirred up a conflict between 
fear and desire, a sense of duty and of 
shame, which rendered the bosom of the 
disturbed sinner, a theatre of agonizing 
strife, until grace triumphed and the soul 
was brought into captivity to the obe. 



43 



dience of Christ. At these assemblies, 
however, every thing was conducted with 
perfect order and sobriety. It was like a 
social religious meeting of friends and fa- 
miliar acquaintances, where all felt free 
from embarrassment to converse, but ex- 
clusively upon the interests of the soul. 
The meeting w r as attended generally by 
the pastor and elders, assisted by such cler- 
gymen as were providentially among us. 
After a few words of conversation with 
each individual, enough to ascertain the 
posture of his mind and the character of 
its exercises, the services were conclud- 
ed with a short address, followed with 
singing and prayer. Such cases, howe- 
ver, as demanded particular attention, 
were noted, and the individuals visited af- 
terwards at their respective dwellings. 
In connexion with these public exercises 
there was much private, domestic and so- 
cial prayer. Individuals of congenial 
taste had their appointed seasons for as- 



44 



sembling, without noise or ostentation. 
The young converts, likewise, both male 
and female, had their stated meetings for 
prayer. And even the children, it was 
soon discovered, were accustomed to 
come together to pray ; sometimes in the 
presence of an adult Christian, and often 
without it ; and always with that solem- 
nity and decorum which the occasion de- 
manded. The elders of the church for 
a season felt constrained to forego their 
secular occupations, and gave themselves 
wholly to the duties prescribed by the 
times. Individual members, moreover, 
were diligently engaged in visiting from 
house to house, for prayer and religious 
conversation. 

But perhaps in all the history of grace, 
there has not been a similar work in 
which its sovereignty was more conspi- 
cuous; in which it was more manifest to 
every beholder that it was not accom- 



45 



plished by the mere efficacy of means. 
In producing every result, it was easy to 
discover the power of God preceding and 
opening the way. The pillar of cloud 
moved first. 

Let it be remembered that there was 
nothing in the habits or the temperament 
or tendencies of the people of New Bruns- 
wick to predispose them, so to speak, to 
such a state as has been described. It 
was not known to the oldest citizen, that 
the place had ever enjoyed a similar season 
of spiritual prosperity ; and to many, a re- 
vival of religion was known only by name. 
Indeed, the reproachful remark had almost 
become a proverb that "a revival of re- 
ligion could never pass beyond the Rari- 
tan." Some, it is known, were secretly 
incredulous in relation to the subject 
itself ; and had been heard to express 
sentiments which promised neither co- 
operation nor sympathy. But in spite of 
all this apathy and unbelief, the Holy Spirit 



46 



came, not led on by a train of extraordi- 
nary means or a series of exciting exer- 
cises; but, as has been already remarked, 
these did not go before the Spirit, but 
they followed. At other times the church 
had set apart successive days for religious 
worship, had held " protracted meet- 
ings," which were attended by no special 
testimonials of divine favour; but, when 
as at this time, the descending Comforter 
had prepared the hearts of the people like 
the moistening and mellowing of the earth 
by rain, to receive the seed, then these 
continuous services were rendered emi- 
nently useful. Every preacher seemed 
to have an effectual message, and every 
sermon was like an arrow guided by a 
strong unerring hand. The truths dispen- 
sed from day to day, were those which 
proved to be the power of God as once 
preached by Peter and his fellow 7 apos- 
tles. I mean the ruin of man by the 



47 



fall, the total alienation of his heart from 
God by nature, his utter inability to re- 
cover himself, and his dependence upon 
the Spirit of God, the duty of immediate 
repentance, and perfect and perpetual obe- 
dience to the law, as a rule of moral con- 
duct, of justification by faith in the right- 
eousness of a crucified Redeemer, and 
the sufficiency of his atonement for all 
whose hearts are inclined to accept the 
proffered mercy of the gospel. 

I annex but a single feature more of 
this extraordinary work, viz : that there 
Was little open opposition. 

So manifest were the workings of some 
mighty influence among the people, so 
mysterious and unaccountable the changes 
which were continually passing before the 
eyes of the unbelieving that even the 
most obdurate stood appalled and silent. 
They could only say in mute surprise, 
" Men and brethren, what meaneth this V 9 



48 



Here were strange things not provided 
for in their philosophy. These sudden 
transformations, not in feeling and opinion 
only, but in life ; these transitions from 
open vice and irreligion, to virtuous and 
holy living ; were too great and too mani- 
fest to be denied or to be ascribed to any 
ordinary moral causes. Here was no ma- 
chinery, no attempt to practise upon 
men's fears or sensibilities, nothing wild 
or fanatical, or bordering on enthusiasm ; 
but all was orderly and grave and digni- 
fied and devotional. Thus as the evening 
bell gave the signal for the gathering of 
the people, and the many joined in the 
throng that were moving towards the 
house of God, those who stood still as 
they were passing, looked on with mixed 
emotions, but they rarely mocked. Some- 
times, however, if the jest or profane 
fling was heard, it was rebuked by some 
bystander, who, it was supposed, would 
have laughed and commended. " Take 



49 



care what you say," replied one who ap- 
peared to be but little affected himself, 
" Take care how you speak," said he to 
one who had just uttered an unbecoming 
jeer, " this is something altogether too se- 
rious to be trifled with." 

That there was much opposition of 
heart and of secret unbelief which was 
not revealed to others, we cannot for a 
moment doubt, while we record this per- 
suasion of our mind with sorrow. But 
that any could remain unmoved or un- 
concerned,, much less have withstood 
the appeals to their hearts, which were 
made at this time by the w T ord and the 
Spirit and the providence of God, is evi- 
dence of an obduracy that savours strong- 
ly of the condition of which God has said 
"let it alone." But may that same Almigh- 
ty energy which caused so many "hearts 
of stone to relent," still be exerted on 
them, and may none be permitted to die 
under the accumulated guilt of having 

E 



50 



beheld such displays of renewing grace, 
and wondered, been almost persuaded, 
and perished. 

Such then is an outline of part of the 
marvellous work which God wrought du- 
ring the summer of 1837 in the city of 
New Brunswick. In glancing the eye 
upon what has been w 7 ritten, the author 
regrets the repeated introduction of him- 
self. Could the facts have been given 
without much awkward circumlocution 
in the third person, there would not 
have been the frequent recurrence of the 
first. It has been the writer's aim " to be 
conscientiously exact in relating things 
according to the naked truth," without 
colouring or exaggeration ; and although 
in the reported conversations with the in- 
quiring, there has been in some instances, 
a change in the mode of expression, yet 
there has not been, so far as is recollect- 
ed, any misrepresentation of their senti- 
ments or feelings. It may perhaps be 



51 



proper to mention that it was not my 
purpose originally to publish at all, pre- 
suming that the most material facts con- 
cerning the revival would eventually be- 
come sufficiently proclaimed and diffused. 
The commonness of such narratives, the 
doubtful utility of many, and the prevail- 
ing incredulity of the public, would have 
precluded this, but for the strong and re- 
peated solicitations of those whose coun- 
sel it was thought presumptuous to disre- 
gard. 

The whole number received into the 
communion of the Presbyterian church 
was 149. The aggregate of admission 
into all of the churches about 600. And 
while in review the results of this glo- 
rious work have transcended our anticipa- 
tions in the consistent persevering godli- 
ness of most, our fears have been realized 
in relation to some. But with very few 
exceptions, the subsequent course of the 
converts has corresponded to its auspi- 



52 



cious beginning. We wonder not that 
we erred in our judgment of some, but 
that we were not deceived in relation to 
more. The lapse of time has been at- 
tended with many of those changes which 
too often follow these seasons of refresh- 
ing ; but w r ith regard to those dominant 
features of the revival which have been 
described, we have had no occasion to 
alter the opinion which we formed in the 
beginning. It is true that the love of the 
brethren and their zeal have become less 
fervent, and there is less apparent concern 
for the salvation of souls. Yet we trust 
that the knowledge acquired, and the 
good, both imparted and received, will 
be lasting as eternity. What skill in 
numbers can compute the worth of one 
soul ? Then who but the Redeemer of souls 
can comprehend and appreciate the pro- 
ducts of such a revival? The scenes of 
this memorable year are still fresh in the 
recollections of most of those who wit- 



53 



nessed them. They need no such memo- 
rial as this to preserve them from oblivion. 
Our prayer is, that it may be blessed to the 
the spiritual welfare of others ; to the en- 
couragement of the desponding, and to the 
removing of the unreasonable prejudices 
and the salvation of many. May this be 
but the beginning of a series of revivals 
in that favoured city, which shall multiply 
and magnify in succeeding years, as the 
harbingers of those days of Zion's prosper- 
ity, when the love and the zeal of her sons 
and daughters shall no more remit, but 
she shall live in the light and joy and glory 
of a perpetuated Revival.* 

* At the solicitation of the writer, the foregoing- 
narrative has been read in our hearing, with the re- 
quest that as we were joint labourers in that glo- 
rious harvest to which it refers, it might be given 
to the public with our common endorsement. We 
therefore cheerfully unite with our late pastor in 
bearing this public testimony, that so far as we can 
recollect, the facts in relation to the revival of reli- 
gion during the summer of 1837, in the congrega- 
E 2 



54 



tion of which we are members, are correctly repre- 
sented in the above " outline." In attestation of 
which we subjoin our names, 

Samuel Holcomb, 

Samuel Bakeb, 

D. W. Vail, 

Peter Dayton, 
Richmond, 



1 



55 



II. 



"WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT! 



The favours shown by God to the peo- 
ple of Israel were so marked, that even 
the wicked Balaam could not but notice 
them. Successful as had been his necro- 
mancy against others, his hand "forgot 
its cunning" when preparing evil against 
them. In vain, therefore, had he come so 
far, and tried so faithfully to curse a na- 
tion whom God had resolved to bless. 
The repeated failure of his experiments 
had now convinced him fully that there 
was "no enchantment against Jacob, 
neither any divination against Israel;" 



56 



at the same time he clearly foresaw that 
their history would " encourage the faith 
and inspire the praises of future ages," 
who, with devout admiration would ex- 
claim, "What hath God wrought!" 

To procure a similar tribute to the 
grace and power of God has been the as- 
cendant motive, it is hoped, in preparing 
the preceding sketch. None who " read 
and understand" will doubt that a glorious 
monument has been raised in that highly 
blessed city, on which no inscription could 
be more appropriate than the words of 
this unhappy prophet. That the scenes 
through which we have passed have been 
strikingly significant and furnish an im- 
portant moral, none, I think, will question. 
Very few have watched the progress of 
events unmoved or unconcerned ; nor can 
any that have known their extraordinary 
character be without some interest to 
learn the probable results. The glowing 
reports of what zealous good men some- 



57 



times presume God to have wrought, have 
so often proved to be premature, that the 
present publication has been deferred until 
time and reflexion, and a return to the 
ordinary occupations and temptations of 
life should afford opportunity for all that 
was merely physical excitement, to sub- 
side; until the mature judgment of the 
religious community might safely pro- 
nounce who were changed radically, and 
who superficially: what was the offspring 
of impulse, and what of religious princi- 
ple. To those who are apprised of the 
various theories of Christians in the pre- 
sent day, on the subject of " revivals," and 
their corresponding diversity of practice 
in conducting them, every ray of light 
which may lead to the truth is welcome. 

To some of the professed friends of re- 
ligion, it is well known, that the very name 
has often been an offence. They have 
been accustomed to unite it in their asso- 
ciations with speculative errors in opinion, 



58 



and with deeds of fanatical extravagance ; 
and have been backward to believe that 
a " revival" could have any other legiti- 
mate connexion. But to have mingled in 
the scenes which have been thus imper- 
fectly described, an4 not to notice "the 
finger of God," would evince an obtuse- 
ness of moral discernment more desperate 
than that of the magicians of Egypt. 
Here was enough to convince the most 
incredulous before, that a revival of re- 
ligion is a reality ; that it is not the figment 
of a pious imagination ; not the mushroom 
product of misjudging zeal ; but that it is 
something whose effects are good, and in 
which good men may be rationally and 
profitably engaged. 

From the preceding narrative, it will be 
easily inferred, that among the results of 
such an event, in New Brunswick, has 
been a marked and extensive change in 
public opinion on this so much disputed 
subject; an enlarging of the public and 



59 



social religious assemblies, and an in- 
creased attention to the means of grace ; 
that the general aspect of society has 
been softened and materially improved ; 
the amount of happiness, both personal 
and domestic, has been greatly increased : 
and most desirable of all, the sincere and 
humble disciples of the Saviour have been 
surprisingly multiplied. 

Such are among the characteristic and 
most palpable fruits of the Spirit in the visit 
of mercy to which we refer. It becomes, 
then, an inquiry not second in importance 
to any connected with this work, who is, 
indeed, its author ? Has it been wrought 
by the influences of the Spirit, or by the de- 
vices and efforts of man? Leaving, then, 
the further details of what has been done, I 
proceed to mention some of the evidences 
that it has been wrought by God. 

And to this conclusion we should have 
been naturally led from reflecting on the 



60 



strange opinions and wild speculations of 
some who have endeavoured to account for 
it on natural principles, or ascribe it to 
secondary causes. 

They are amongst the best arguments 
in support of the truth which they were 
used to assail. Thus numerous peals were 
rung, as usual, upon those convenient 
terms, "excitement" "sympathy" "ani- 
mal feeling" fyc. But the gospel had 
been preached, and appeals had been 
made to the hopes, and fears, and 
" sympathies" of the hearer, by succes- 
sive pastors, from Gilbert Tennent's 
ministry, commencing in 1726; and that 
the success of labour now was so much 
greater in appearance could not be as- 
cribed to its novelty or better adapta- 
tion. But by recurring to the Narrative, 
it will be seen that the " feeling" pre- 
ceded ; that the sensibilities of the people 
were kindled before the special means of 
" excitement," as they are called, were 



61 



increased. Thus our assemblies were 
not multiplied, nor our houses of worship 
thrown open, till the opened ears and 
awakened interests of the people demand- 
ed it. We went from the private room to 
the public ? from the session house to the 
church, only as we were urged by the 
throng of interested hearers. Xo doubt 
the preaching of the truth to the crowded 
assembly : the increased zeal and faith of 
the church, as manifested in their conver- 
sation and prayers; the great and sudden 
changes wrought in many, as witnessed 
from day to day, all combined to help 
the progress of the work, but they did not 
begin it. As well might we say that the 
short and cold days of winter cause the 
sun to linger below the horizon, as that 
the cause of this revival was in the means, 
or that the hearts of the people were origi- 
nally prepared, their taste rectified, and 
their M sympathies" excited by any move- 
ments or machinery of men. The true 

F 



62 



cause was back of all these, as really as 
the cause of sight is behind the organ of 
vision. No, we had never witnessed those 
astonishing displays of mercy and power, 
had not some mighty agent gone before 
and prepared the way to give a disposi- 
tion to use the means of grace, as well as 
to render them effectual. In the progress 
of this work we have seen the hearer not 
excited merely, but converted ; not chang- 
ed in mind only, but renewed in heart. 

Again, we have been referred for the 
causes to the saddening influence of pub- 
lic calamity, our gloomy prospects, com- 
mercial embarrassments, the reverses and 
straits that were more or less felt by all.* 
A blessed improvement, truly, of this 
chastening Providence, had there been a 
disposition in men to make it. But if this 

* The revival occurred in New Brunswick during- 
the time of that extraordinary pecuniary pressure 
which proved so calamitous in its consequences. 



63 



temporal affliction was so fruitful in good 
to us, why was it not equally productive 
in other places, where the rod was felt 
more severely I Other cities have suffered 
the " pressure," and why have they not 
enjoyed a similar benefit ? And w r hy did 
not the pestilence at one time, and the de- 
structive tempest* at another, produce a 
revival then, and thus anticipate the bless- 
ings which some would connect with the 
trouble of the present ? 

But I pass from such attempted exposi- 
tions of the cause of this joyous event ; 
which have been noticed thus far only to 
exhibit the truth in bolder relief. As we 
argue the correctness of the cosmogony 
of Moses from the egregious inconsist- 
encies and folly of all those systems of 
philosophy which endeavour to furnish 
another, or, as we infer the candour 
and veracity of an honest witness, from the 



* Appendix B . 



64 



quibblings and evasions, and self-contra- 
dictions of a false one, so we may safely 
assert, as we ponder the delightful events 
of the past, behold "what hath God 
wrought!" while we see how much they 
are embarrassed who attempt to account 
for them by any other agency than his. 

Again, we infer that the hand of God 
is in these changes, from the concurrent 
testimony that is furnished in the history 
of grace. I mean from their exact resem- 
blance to the fruits of his Spirit in those 
seasons of refreshing, by which he has 
answered the prayers of his people in all 
past ages. In every period of the world 
the marks of a work of the Spirit have 
been essentially alike. In the change ex- 
perienced by each new convert in his 
passing from death unto life, his sorrow 
for sin, and subsequent peace and holi- 
ness of living, we have witnessed nothing 
which the Scriptures do not warrant us 
to expect ; nothing which was unknown 



65 



to Enoch before the flood, and to Noah, 
and to Abraham, and to every regenerated 
individual since. The experience of each 
is the same, and it is only the multiplica- 
tion of these units sufficiently which con- 
stitutes what is called a revival. Such 
manifestations of his special grace as were 
enjoyed in the days of the good kings Heze- 
kiah and Josiah ; with which he blessed 
Samaria, under the ministry of Philip the 
Evangelist; and which, according to the 
Prophet Joel, we have reason to believe 
will continue to be repeated and multi- 
plied as the harbingers of the day of 
Christ's universal triumph. It is a lamen- 
table error, therefore, to identify these 
mercies with this age of excitement, or 
with ourselves as a peculiar nation, be- 
cause of our comparative youth and sup- 
posed want of stability and fixedness of 
character. On the other hand, some of 
the brightest pages of the history of the 
church, in other lands, are the records of 
f 2 



66 



just such glorious events as we have 
narrated. In an anonymous work, as- 
cribed to the excellent Robert Flem- 
ing, published about one hundred and 
fifty years ago — a time, it will be recol- 
lected from the date, of great turmoil 
and distress in the church — there are 
preserved the accounts of revivals in 
Scotland and Protestant Ireland, which 
were scarcely exceeded in the days of the 
Apostles. I refer to the times of Dickson, 
and of Welsh, and Forbes, and Rutherford, 
and Bruce, and Livingston, an ancestor of 
the venerable patriarch whose latter days 
were spent in the city of which we speak. 
Yes, the late Dr. Livingston was a worthy 
descendant of one of whom it is recorded 
by our author, " that being unexpectedly 
called to preach on the Monday following 
the solemn communion, in the Kirk of 
Schots, 21st of June, 1630, such were 
the presence and power of the Spirit to 
bless, that nearly five hundred had at that 



67 



very time a discernible change wrought 
on them, most of whom proved lively 
Christians afterwards. And this work 
was the sowing of the seed through 
Clidesdeal, so as many most eminent 
Christians in that country could date 
either conversion or some remarkable 
confirmation in their case from that 
day." 

And what were the prominent features 
of these works of God as described by 
him ? Precisely such, I answer, as were 
witnessed under the ministry of the Apos- 
tles ; as were seen in various parts of 
Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth 
centuries ; as marked the revivals under 
the labours of Whitefield, Da vies, Samuel 
Blair, Edwards, and the Tennents ; as 
have been developed in every genuine re- 
vival of religion since, and such as we have 
been endeavouring to record. "Would 
you debate the efficacious power," says 
Fleming, "of that which should melt and 



68 



dissolve the hardest stone? And may you 
not wonder what a power this must be 
which will make men melt and dissolve 
in tears, who through their life were known 
to be most obdured and stupid ? Some 
were called in youth, and even at a ten- 
der age, little beyond their infancy ; and 
others in their old age, who were made to 
confess, after seventy years resisting of 
the gospel, that for the first time they had 
felt its saving power." And of such rare 
trophies of grace, as Fleming calls them, 
may I not turn to the fruits of the Spirit 
in New Brunswick, and say, in the lan- 
guage of Paul to the Corinthians, " and 
such were some of you; but ye are 
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are 
justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
and by the Spirit of our God."* 

My last testimonial to the agency of 



* 1 Cor. vi. 11. 



69 



God in this work is the experience of those 
who profess to be its subjects. 

" We speak what we do know and tes- 
tify what we have" felt, is the language of 
many, touching this work of the Spirit. 
And if the mouths of two or three compe- 
tent witnesses are usually deemed suffi- 
cient to establish the truth of a contested 
matter in a court of justice, in the case be- 
fore us we have the testimony of hun- 
dreds. I grant that the heart is deceitful, 
and that some may have mistaken the 
stirrings of passion for the operations of 
grace. But can it be so with all? Can 
any sober-minded unbeliever in that city 
persuade either himself or others, that 
these five or six hundred souls who unite 
in ascribing their change to the power 
of God, are either hypocrites or self-de- 
ceivers ? In some, the reformation of their 
life, of their deportment and conversation ; 
the change in their reading, associations, 



70 



and habits, is as obvious as the difference 
between midnight and noon. 

They tell us that they are so changed in 
conduct, because they are not less changed 
in their feelings, their taste, and their prin- 
ciples : that the vices which they once 
loved they now hate, and the virtues which 
they once hated they now love ; that all 
this has been wrought in them, not by the 
persuasion of men, but the power of God : 
that they have new views of his charac- 
ter, of his word, and of his ordinances : 
and shall we charge them with misrepre- 
sentation ? They tell us, moreover, that 
they have a sense of the evil of sin, of the 
corruption of their hearts, which could 
not be the result of meditation, of reading, 
or the mere instructions of men. To con- 
vince them of the contrary would be to 
persuade them out of their consciousness. 

And while to the eye of sense the out- 
ward change in some is less marked on 
account of their previous habits of virtue, 



71 



yet in very many others it has been like 
the Ethiopian changing his skin, like the 
transforming of the lion to the lamb. And 
whatever may be the opinions of others, 
for myself, I could as easily renounce my 
belief of the existence of the Holy Spirit, 
as to doubt that these new creatures have 
been made the subjects of his renovation. 
I could as well doubt that the heavens 
above us are " the work of God's fingers," 
as that the changes which I have wit- 
nessed in this revival of religion have 
been wrought by God. 

Pausing, then, at this point in our re- 
marks, to avoid prolixity, may we not 
hope that enough has been written to fur- 
nish some instructive hints in relation to 
revivals of religion. 

First, with respect to their true nature. 
That they are not among the inventions 
of the day, mere commotions among the 
people, in which a little religion looms 
large and fills a wide space in the public 



72 



eye without resulting in much positive 
good. Such an impression, I hope, does 
not remain on the mind of any after all 
that God has been doing to remove it. I 
have endeavoured to show that such 
events are not peculiar to any age of the 
church, not even to the economy of the 
gospel, but were known before it. And 
if through human infirmity they have 
sometimes been attended with excesses of 
feeling, and departures from sobriety and 
good order, at which the wicked have 
mocked, as they did on the day of Pente- 
cost, ascribing the operations of the Spirit 
to the excitement of wine, yet " what is 
the chaff to the wheat?' What is this 
small incidental evil, to counterbalance so 
much direct and positive good I True reli- 
gion is the same in every age, in every in- 
dividual, in all places, and among all na- 
tions. It comes from the same author, and 
operates in the same way. The only dif- 
ference between that which results from a 



73 



revival, and that produced by the Spirit 
at other times, consists in the amount, not 
the quality; like that between the har- 
vest of a husbandman who gathers thirty 
fold at one time, and a hundred fold of 
the same kind of grain at another. So 
far, therefore, as any person desires to 
have religion promoted at all, he must de- 
sire a revival. The same love for souls 
which would lead him to pray for the con- 
version of a few, would constrain him to 
pray for the conversion of many. We 
conclude, then, that revivals of religion 
can have in reality no enemies in Chris- 
tendom, or in the world, but such as are 
enemies to religion itself. 

Another useful hint furnished by the re- 
view we have taken, has reference to the 
means. 

If the product of a revival be the same 
in its nature as are the fruits of the Spirit 
at other and ordinary times, then it is 
easy to infer that there is room for no 

G 



74 



other than the same means or agencies in 
both; that there is no such difference 
between these Pentecostal ingatherings 
and others, that each calls for measures 
peculiar to itself ; or that the kind of evan- 
gelical effort which is requisite in the one 
case, will not be suitable in the other. 
But as I observed, in relation to the ho- 
mogeneous nature of true religion itself, 
that it is the same at all times and under 
all circumstances, so I may say of the 
means for promoting it. These likewise, 
in all ages of the church, have been es- 
sentially the same ; and whether the spi- 
ritual harvest be small or great, depends, 
under God, not upon changing the mode 
or the kind of our culture, so much as 
upon the amount. As the apostle would 
express the sentiment, He that soweth 
sparingly, must expect to reap sparingly, 
and he that soweth bountifully may hope 
for a bountiful reward.* 

* 2 Cor. ix. 6. 



75 



A sovereign Providence, it is true, some- 
times withholds the blessing and frustrates 
the labours of the most industrious and 
faithful husbandman. The success of 
the apostles themselves, was not in all 
places equal; being received with kind- 
ness and their ministry highly honoured 
of the Spirit in one city, while they suf- 
fered a repulse and persecution in an- 
other. And thus, while the Holy Spirit 
was coming down like copious showers, 
and every drop seemed pregnant with 
fertility, we found no occasion for any 
new methods of preparing the ground to 
receive them. We saw nothing to cause 
a change in our views of the scriptural 
doctrines of the utter inability of the sin- 
ner to renew himself, and of his depend- 
ence on the Spirit of God; nothing in 
the most efficient and best directed efforts 
of men, to make us think more highly of 
human agency and less of divine. On 
the other hand, every successive conver- 



76 



sion was a new confirmation of what was 
found to be no less true in the days of 
Paul; that after our most diligent plant- 
ing and watering, the increase must come 
from God. In all that occurred during 
this season of mercy, we were only ga- 
thering fresh testimony from day to day ; 
that " the sword of the Spirit is the word 
of God," and that " by the foolishness of 
preaching he saves them that believe." 
And thus the only visible engine of power 
was the gospel as exhibited from the pul- 
pit, in the social assembly, in the meeting 
of inquiry, and from house to house. On 
each, and on all these methods of impart- 
ing his truth, its great author set the seal 
of his manifest approbation. The public 
preaching of the word was eminently 
blessed. The faithful and affectionate 
conversation of Christians in private, was 
also greatly subservient to the carrying 
forward of this glorious work. 

But among the subordinate agencies, I 



77 



feel myself called upon specially to notice 
the meeting for inquirers: a means of 
advancing a revival of religion which, I 
am aware, like the thing itself, has been 
obnoxious to suspicion and reproach from 
its perversion and injudicious use. But 
so has the ministry been abused, so have 
the sacraments, so has almost every good 
institution, civil, as well as religious. But 
with us, the meeting for inquirers grew 
out of our exigencies. As in a time of 
a raging epidemic, when the number of 
patients is too great or too widely scat- 
tered to enable the physician to visit each 
in person at his own house, they are 
brought together to receive that counsel, 
which he wants time to give them in pri- 
vate, so in the season of a revival, when 
scores have become awakened to a sense 
of their spiritual maladies, and all need 
the same instruction, I know of nothing 
I confess, in the common expedient of in- 
viting all such to convene and hear the 
g 2 



78 



gospel in a private social assembly, which 
ought to excite the apprehensions of the 
friends of good order and good doctrine, 
or of the good " old ways" of dispensing 
it. And yet here is the whole theory of 
a meeting for inquirers. All that is right 
or wrong, sound or unsound, is compre- 
hended in what I have written, and with 
respect to such meetings among ourselves, 
I add, that they were signally blessed. 
They were one efficient method of calling 
out and introducing to the pastor and ses- 
sion of the church from day to day, those 
who had been struggling with their con- 
victions in secret, and who needed only 
the humble agency of some spiritual 
helper, to point them to the only Refuge 
from sin. But if, after all, there should 
be deemed any thing dubious in the cha- 
racter and tendency of such means, I am 
perfectly willing to let the tree be judged 
by its fruits ; to stake their reputation 



79 



upon their results, wherever they have 
been judiciously tried. 

Again, we have seen in what God 
wrought in this city, the happy effects of 
a revival of religion upon the church. 
And how much are such seasons to be 
desired for the sake of Christians them- 
selves ! What surprising changes it 
effects in them, their feelings, their enjoy- 
ment, their living ! How their religious 
sensibilities are kindled, their gifts called 
into exercise, and their usefulness pro- 
moted ! How manifest the difference now 
between a Christian sleeping, and a Chris- 
tian awake ; between a lamp neglected, 
and a lamp trimmed! What siftings of 
experience, self-scrutiny! What care- 
fulness, what clearing of themselves, yea, 
what indignation against sin, yea, what 
fear of committing it, yea, what vehement 
desire for usefulness, yea, what zeal, yea, 
what holv revenge!* What a season for 



* 2 Cor. vii. 11, 



80 



distinguishing between the wise virgins 
and the foolish, between professors of 
religion and its possessors ! Now the 
" bushel" is taken off, and their light put 
upon a candlestick, and it so shines before 
men, that God is glorified in the eyes of 
all who see it. Now there is a reviving 
of personal, domestic, and public religion. 
That timidity and fear of man, which ope- 
rated like a palsy on their moral powers 
are now overcome, and every man dis- 
covers that he has his own " proper gift" 
of God, and can turn it to some good ac- 
count : that if he is too ignorant, and 
too weak, and too wicked to do any thing 
of himself, God can do much by him. If 
he cannot say in his own name, " Eph- 
phatha" # to the deaf, God can nevertheless 
speak it by him. In a word, there is no 
season like a revival of religion to expound 
to church officers and church members, the 



* Mark, vii. 34. 



SI 



meaning of the emblematic agency of 
Aaron and Hur, in assisting Moses in the 
conflict with Amalek. They now become 
the most efficient helpers to the ministry, 
by their sympathies, their prayers, their 
co-operation, their visits among the in- 
quiring, their admonition of the careless, 
and more especially by their godly exam- 
ple. Such, then, are the author and some 
of the results of the late revival in New 
Brunswick. The review would easily 
suggest many monitions to be offered by 
one who has sustained the relation of the 
writer to those for whom this sketch has 
been prepared. 

In view of the heart's deceitfulness, it 
is hard to suppress the fear that some may 
be still unchanged in character, though 
changed in their relation ; that they may 
have mistaken sympathy with others for 
distress on account of themselves, that 
they may have " gone to warfare at their 
own charges." On such then, as indulge 



82 



the hope that they have been renewed, he 
would affectionately enjoin the closest 
watchfulness and self-examination, not at 
this time only, but habitually till the end 
of their life. Remember, moreover, that 
if you fall, professor of religion, like 
Achan the son of Zerah, you " perish not 
alone in your iniquity." Your relapse 
will cause dismay and disaster in propor- 
tion to your influence. The cause of re- 
ligion is concerned, the honour of your 
Saviour, the reputation of revivals, as 
well as your own, are all more or less 
involved. And God only knows how 
deep and lasting the wound on the body 
of the Saviour, which is caused by the 
going back of a single individual. Be 
"watchful then, be sober, be vigilant," 
and always abounding in the use of those 
means of grace, through which you may 
be upheld from falling. Let those enemies 
of the cross be disappointed who have 
predicted your disgrace, and who have 



83 



said in their hearts, "Aha, aha, so would 
we have it." Thus, while you feel the 
peril of your own souls, have compassion 
on the souls of others, and instead of 
strengthening the hands of the wicked, 
(already too strong) and encouraging 
their hearts, see to it, young convert, that 
while you live, you adorn your profession 
and exhibit with increasing lustre, the 
glory of that grace, of which you trust 
you have been made a monument. 

But are there not numbers, who have 
passed through these scenes of mercy and 
power unblessed ? My remarks would be 
left unfinished, if I omitted the admonition 
which it administers to them. And while 
many stout and lofty hearts have been 
humbled, theirs remain like the nether 
millstone still. While some who w r ere 
their companions in unbelief have turned, 
and their faces are now towards Zion ; 
these are moving onward in the same 
broad way, only with accelerated pro- 



84 



gress. Perhaps, too, their example and 
society may have helped to support the 
quailing hearts of others, or they may 
have done more and worse than this, — 
may have used direct effort to hedge up 
their way and oppose them. 

When they discovered in the solemn 
countenance, perhaps of a wife, or of a 
child, or of a husband or friend, a start* 
ing tear, or some symptoms of incipient 
repentance, they passed it lightly by as a 
matter of jest; made themselves merry at 
that which made their friends so sorro wful. 
These wished to go to the place of prayer, 
but were discouraged. The cry of 
" wildfire," and " fanaticism," and " ex- 
travagance," was raised, and they w T ere 
thereby prevented. It was an afflictive 
trial at first, but they yielded. Perhaps 
they were overawed, or the peace of the 
household rendered it necessary. 

Now their convictions have subsided, 
and the opposer has the awful satisfaction 



85 



of finding them just as unconcerned, and 
insensible to their danger as he is himself. 
And suppose, that here their religious 
career terminates. The Holy Spirit with- 
draws finally and for ever. Both spend 
the remnant of their life, and pass to the 
judgment seat, in the same condition of 
heart in which this revival has left them. 
And what a prospect for sinners who 
have trampled upon the blood of the co- 
venant, and done despite to the Spirit of 
grace! And what a retribution is before 
them! The one has permitted himself to 
be scoffed or menaced out of his serious- 
ness, and the other has been the cruel in- 
strument of doing it. 

And now, as their reward for being 
thus united in rejecting the mercy of the 
Saviour, should they persevere, they have 
the miserable consolation of not being di- 
vided in perdition. That troubled com- 
panion was floating and struggling, and 
was making towards the life-boat that 

H 



86 



was let down and set in motion to save 
them both from destruction ; but the one 
would neither enter it himself, nor suffer 
the other, and now they enjoy the dread- 
ful satisfaction of sinking and perishing 
together. And among my readers, are 
there any whose case Hqave been describ- 
ing, and whose conscience should render 
the service of a Nathan, and apply this 
representation ? I could desire that there 
were none, I could hope there are none. 
But should there be a single individual, 
whose sin has been thus set before him, 
may this admonition, much more painful 
to give than to receive, be made the Spi- 
rit's instrument to reach his heart. That 
you have been spared in all this daring 
opposition to God, is a token that he is 
waiting to be gracious. To have resisted 
all the influences and motives and means 
which are combined and press upon the 
conscience in such a revival of religion, 
evinces an obduracy of heart which 



87 



alarms your friends, if it do not disturb 
yourself. But the grace of God which 
has been bringing salvation to so many, 
may yet appear unto you. Your sin is 
exceeding great, but I trust it is not too 
great to be forgiven. You have done 
much to bring upon yourself swift des- 
truction ; but you are still in the land 
of means, and of hope, and of pro- 
mise. You might have well provoked 
the Holy Spirit to withdraw from you 
for ever, and then your perdition had 
been certain. We trust that you have 
not done this yet. He has left yon for 
a season ; but he may return. Then 
call on him for help without delay. For 
as there is no other name whereby you 
may be saved, than the name of Jesus ; 
so is there no other influence but the 
Spirit's, which can change your heart, 
overcome its obduracy, and bring you to 
Jesus for salvation. 



88 



III. 



« WHY SHOULD THE WORK CEASE ?" 

The opinion has widely obtained, that 
the condition of a church in the time of a 
revival is forced and unnatural ; rather a 
state of feverish heat than of healthy, 
natural warmth; that her efforts in those 
seasons are, so to speak, more spasmodic 
than voluntary, and though they may re- 
sult in some good, they are likewise the 
occasion of much incidental evil; and 
hence it is that many regard the short 
duration of a revival as one of its most 
desirable attributes. 

It becomes a question then of serious 
import — is this opinion correct? — are the 
causes by which a work of grace is so 



4 

89 



often arrested, of such a nature, that they 
are not to be counteracted or removed? 

In the remarks that follow, it is intend- 
ed to offer a few suggestions to those pro- 
fessed friends of revivals, who entertain 
sentiments on this subject by which their 
agency in these interesting seasons is 
often materially embarrassed. And should 
a revival cease, I would nsk, because as 
some imagine every such icork is in its 
nature short-lived or ephemeral I I rea- 
dily concede that there are certain ad- 
juncts or concomitants of a revival, which 
must of necessity soon pass away. There 
is a stirring up of the animal feelings, in 
which we always find a mixture more or 
less of the carnal with the spiritual. There 
is now a concurrence of new circum- 
stances all which combine to excite and 
exalt the man above himself, and from 
which elevation there is a constant gra- 
vitating tendency that will sooner or later 
bring him down to his natural or consti- 
h'9 



90 



tutional level. And again, there are 
changes in the habits and engagements of 
many of its zealous promoters, which 
must continue but for a time; as for ex- 
ample, a partial suspension of their ordi- 
nary business, or a temporary withdraw- 
ing from their secular callings. When 
the Spirit is shed down with power, and 
the harvest becomes so plenteous that the 
labourers are too few to gather it, it is 
not a time to confer with flesh and blood, 
and coolly to calculate consequences. The 
revived Christian will obey the impulse of 
his awakened heart, and leave his farm, 
and shop, and profession, no matter how 
urgent or lucrative, and if the emergency 
require it, will give his time and capaci- 
ties to the work of the Lord. He can no 
more resist the importunity of the times, 
than he could refuse to render help to the 
drowning. But that such a man should 
persevere long in these Levitical labours, 
to the entire neglect of his worldly affairs, 



91 



while like Israel in the desert, he should, 
rely upon God to provide for his family, 
would not be an exercise of faith. Some 
simple-hearted excellent men, supposing 
themselves called to the work of evangel- 
ists, have made the experiment, but the 
Lord did not supply them with quails, 
nor did the heavens rain bread. No, in 
the progress of such a work among a 
people, there may be, and must be, an 
eventual relaxation of a certain species 
of extraordinary effort, but the question 
arises, must the work itself therefore 
cease? Is there such a connexion be- 
tween its advancement, and this particular 
kind or amount of exertion, that like the 
wheel and the water, when the one ceases 
to flow, the other cannot revolve ? Does 
this follow from any known law of Divine 
Providence ? Is it fixed by any secret 
decree? Is it sanctioned by experience ? 
Or is there any solid foundation for the 
prevailing sentiment, that such seasons 



92 



must be followed by apathy, inactivity, 
and declension? "Why not aim," says 
Dr. Alexander, " at having a continuous, 
lively state of piety, and an unceasing 
progress in the conversion of the impeni- 
tent, without these dreadful seasons of 
deadness, and indifference ? Why may 
we not hope for such a state of increasing 
prosperity in the church, that revivals 
shall be no longer needed, or if you pre- 
fer the expression, when there shall be 
a perpetual revival? Richard Baxter's 
congregation seems for many years to 
have approximated to w T hat is here sup- 
posed, and perhaps that of John Brown of 
Haddington, and that of Dr. Romaine of 
London." Such moreover has been the de- 
lightful state of a few congregations in 
our own country ; that of the late Dr. 
Payson of Portland, for example, who in 
answer to a letter of inquiry on this sub- 
ject from a friend, observes — " I have 
been connected with this society about 



93 



thirteen years ; we have had no general 
revival, but there has been some religious 
attention during the whole period of my 
ministry; the smallest number added to 
the church in any one year is eighteen, 
the largest eighty-four ; annual average — 
forty." This, in the acceptation of the 
writer just quoted, might well be called 
" a perpetual revival." May not the same 
happy state of continued prosperity be en- 
joyed by others, and if such a work be 
wrought by God, and not by man, is it 
not presumptuous, and almost profane, to 
limit its duration or prescribe our own 
law r s ; to say that it must have its ebb and 
flow like the tide I And is it not time 
that this mistake should be corrected? 
Have not many in the church been quite 
too ready to adopt a sentiment which suits 
so well their sinful love of repose 1 And 
while some of the agencies which seem to 
have been blessed in advancing it mav be 
suspended, yet should the church, in the 



94 



exercise of strong faith still continue that 
amount of effort which her imperative 
duty requires, is it presumptuous to be- 
lieve, that the Spirit would not be with- 
drawn? If his special influences did not 
" come down as showers," they might dis- 
til as dew, and the hill of Zion be pre- 
served in perpetual verdure. 

Or is theirs a better solution, who re- 
solve the ceasing of a work of grace into 
the sovereignty of God ; w r ho imagine that 
the hinderance to its farther progress is on 
his part, and the way hedged up by a 
secret decree ? Beyond a doubt the sove- 
reignty of God is concerned in every 
event that is occurring in the universe, in 
overruling evil, as well as in causing good, 
in permitting a revival to cease, as in car- 
rying it onward. But can any one believe, 
that in both of these cases, he is in the same 
sense the primary cause of the result ? A 
bright meridian sun, shedding down its 
rays upon a garden of roses, and a pool 



95 



of stagnant water, in the former case, 
calls forth exhalations which fill the air 
with the sweetest perfume, and in the lat- 
ter impregnates it with pestilence and 
death. Is the sun therefore in the same 
sense the cause of them both ? 

" I went by the field of the slothful," 
and found it just as Solomon describes it, 
" all grown over with thorns, the nettles 
had covered the face thereof, and the 
stone wall thereof was broken down."* 
From surveying the desolations without I 
entered his mean and dilapidated dwelling 
to inquire the cause — why his fields were 
so unproductive, his estate gone to decay, 
his children squalid, and sordid, and half 
famished for food ? Alas ! he responds 
as he turns himself upon his bed, it is the 
sovereignty of God ; it is all the result of 
a mysterious Providence ; the fulfilment 
of his righteous decrees. " It is vain to 



* Prov. xxiv. 30, 31. 



96 



rise up early, to sit up late, and to eat the 
bread"* of economy, if the Lord has not 
decreed to add his blessing. And all this 
is very true ; this sluggard's doctrine is 
sound, he is orthodox in theory, his mis- 
take is only in the application ; he makes 
one use of it, and God designs another 
and exactly the opposite. Its proper ef- 
fect would be to encourage, not to dis- 
courage, make him industrious, and not 
slothful ; it was the very ground on which 
he should have laboured in hope, not sat 
down in despair. Divine sovereignty was 
concerned in his poverty like the sun in 
drawing out those pestilential exhalations. 

But let us examine this case a little 
more particularly, catechise this misguid- 
ed predestinarian on the other part of his 
creed, and see how far his faith will stand 
the test prescribed by the apostle James. 
Whether he shows his faith without his 



* Ps. cxxvii. 2. 



97 



works, or by his works. And has he taken 
the common sense precaution against the 
failure of his harvest by seasonable culti- 
vation, did he plant and sow as Solomon 
enjoins — prepare his ground, and make a 
wise selection of seed 1 Not at all. He 
thinks it vain to " rise up early and sit up 
late," without the Lord's blessing ; but he 
has not ascertained by experiment, whe- 
ther it is just as vain to labour with his 
blessing: he has been depending on the 
sovereignty of God to fill his empty gran- 
aries, cultivate his fields, and feed his 
children ; but he has not inquired whe- 
ther the result would have been the same 
had he put his trust in God, while he was 
using his prescribed means for doing it 
himself. And do any respond that the 
folly I am describing is altogether imagin- 
ary — that men never act nor argue so 
absurdly in relation to their worldly in- 
terests? True, but thousands do about 
their spiritual. It is the very essence of 



98 



that old saw with which so many are ac- 
customed to parry appeals to their con- 
science — " If we are to be saved, we 
shall be saved, do what we will ; and if 
we are to be lost, we shall be lost, do what 
we can." It is moreover the sad perver- 
sion of truth by some good men, who as- 
cribe the ceasing of a work of grace 
to God's sovereignty, while they are do- 
ing little or nothing to promote it. And 
it is an extreme to which they are often 
urged, who presume to be wise above 
the Scriptures, and virtually disregard 
one revealed truth, because they cannot 
reconcile it with another. Thus, who can 
question that the grace, and power, and 
sovereignty of God are eminently con- 
cerned in every genuine revival of reli- 
gion, whether we can make the fact agree 
with the agency of man or not? And yet 
the very last question for any labourer in 
such a work to ask is, what God's hidden 
purposes are ? And least of all is he to 



99 



cease his efforts, for fear that these un- 
revealed decrees may be against him. 
What have we to do with the secret coun- 
sels of God, as a rule of action in a re- 
vival, whether he designs it to go forward 
or to cease? What is our duty, but to 
keep ourselves faithfully engaged within 
the narrow limits of that humble agency 
to which he has appointed us, and leave 
the issue with him 1 

When, in a time of serious apprehen- 
sion from Benhadad king of Syria, Joash 
king of Israel came to the prophet Elisha 
for instruction, he was told to take a bow 
and arrows and shoot one eastward, and 
the king obeyed ; whereupon the prophet 
exclaimed, — " The arrow of the Lord's 
deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance 
from Syria, for thou shalt smite the Sy- 
rians in Aphek till thou hast consumed 
them."* Here the king of Israel sup- 



* 2 Kings, xiii, 



100 



poses that he now receives an unequivocal 
promise of a complete overthrow of his 
enemies, endorsed by the sovereignty of 
God. But notice what instructions follow. 
The king is now commanded to take the 
arrows and smite upon the ground, which 
he did thrice, and stayed. Whereupon 
the grieved and disappointed prophet, im- 
mediately subjoins, " thou shouldst have 
smitten five, or six times, then hadst thou 
smitten Syria till thou hadst conquered it, 
whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but 
thrice." And what, the astonished and 
mortified Joash might have well inquired, 
what has this to do with my triumph over 
the king of Syria ? If the result has been 
secured by the purposes of God, how can 
this be affected by any agency of mine, 
whether I had smitten three times or six? 
The very question virtually which we 
hear so often asked concerning God's 
control, and our freedom, both of which 
are just as capable of being proved, as is 



101 



his eternity or omnipresence, and just as 
easily understood. The smiting with the 
arrows, enables us to see the simple fact 
of a union of divine and human agency, 
as in a figure, yet it does not aid us in the 
least to comprehend and explain the con- 
nexion. 

Thus the Lord's prophet believed in the 
sovereignty of God, and he knew that 
whether the king of Israel should slay 
many Syrians, or few, depended not upon 
the emblematic action, but upon the will 
of God. He, nevertheless, declared, that 
his triumph would be only partial, and 
that the imperfection of his victory must 
be ascribed entirely to himself: — that had 
he smitten five, or six times, with the ar- 
rows, he had then smitten the Syrians till 
he had consumed them, but that now he 
might see the measure of his success, in 
what he had done to shadow it forth. 

The key to this parabolical act is easily 
applied. His ceasing to smite, evinced 
1 2 



102 



the weakness of his faith, which would 
betray itself in the feebleness of his ef- 
forts, as well as in the smallness of their 
number. And here, in the duty of the king 
of Israel in carrying on his work, the 
church has a pleasant exhibition of what 
God requires of them, in promoting theirs. 
Instead of pausing to solve a mystery 
which perplexes Gabriel's mind not less 
than ours, how a divine decree should 
seem to be suspended upon such a capri- 
cious agency as man's, their concern is 
with the arrows. And if in the progress 
of a revival, there are any tokens of a 
decline, let the church conscientiously in- 
quire, how far the ceasing of the work, is 
connected with their Joash-like backward- 
ness in smiting, or their ceasing to use the 
appointed means. 

I ask once more, should the agents in 
such a work cease, for want of motives, 
or of due encouragement, in labouring to 
promote it? And to meet this general in- 



103 



quiry, by recurring to the instructive case 
described in the foregoing outline — what 
do we discover, in the nature or results of 
such a work, which should have forbidden 
its friends to desire, or to hope for its 
continuance? Among those who remain 
still wedded to their sins, are there any 
whose conversion would be thought more 
difficult than was that of some, who are 
now indulging its joys? We have seen 
the eyes of many that were born in blind- 
ness opened. Is there any Bartimeus left 
whose case is more formidable? Imagine 
that in anticipation of this visit of mercy, 
the most discerning Christian had ventur- 
ed to foretell who would be the subjects 
of grace, would his predictions have cor- 
responded with the result? Does not 
every revival leave some in unbelief, who 
would have been selected by most as 
likely to be among its first subjects — those 
apparent borderers on the kingdom, for 
example, who have long seemed to be so 



104 



near, that the gentlest impulse, it was 
thought, would be sufficient to bring them 
in; while others have been taken, who had 
long been regarded as vessels of wrath 
fitted for destruction; whom many look- 
ed for judgments and perdition to over- 
take, but none ever dreamed of their 
conversion. The displays of God's dis- 
criminating grace, have caused many to 
marvel ; and should it please him to re- 
turn and carry on his work, till the rest 
should be gathered, could it cause us to 
marvel more ? And why should not such a 
hope be indulged? Can the rod that has 
so often smitten the rock, and called forth 
its waters, do it no longer? Does the arm 
that has wrought such wonders ever be- 
come weary? Is prayer less acceptable 
to him who then heard it, or are means 
less suited to be the channels of mercy ? 
The heralds of redeeming love were not 
long since going out into the lanes, and 
the highways, and hedges, with the cheer- 



105 



ing invitation of the Saviour — " Gome 
unto me all ye that labour and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest." " Ho, 
every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
waters." And have these moving scrip- 
tures lost their power? Are the cup. and 
the bread, and the waters of salvation less 
gratuitous than they were I — less freely 
and generously proffered? And can any 
doubter say, wherein his attitude towards 
a throne of grace is so changed, that he 
may not plead with the same importunity, 
and ask for mercies with the same holy 
boldness as in those months of rejoicing 
whose memory is so grateful ? Do we 
hear him say, that the Spirit has with- 
drawn, and that the means of grace are 
no longer operative. And why ! Because 
that measure of influences which were 
purchased for this vineyard of Zion has 
been expended — or that prayer for more 
will not be heard? Are the souls that 
remain unconverted, less dear to the Sa- 



106 



viour — or are his sympathies less tender 
for their salvation? Do such inquiries 
need a reply — and is there no other ground 
of discouragement than these ? Then why 
sit down like pensive Elijah under his ju- 
niper shade in despair, when perhaps a 
wife, or a child, a parent, or a husband is 
among the ransomed of the Lord, from 
whom he is less disposed to withhold his 
regenerating grace than we are to ask it. 
" What meanest thou, O sleeper, arise and 
call upon thy God." With the apparent 
ceasing of the work of grace, has there 
not been a corresponding abatement of 
Christian zeal, a relaxation in labour, a 
turning asid to the cares and follies of 
the world? "I have somewhat against 
thee," says the Saviour to the church at 
Ephesus, " because thou hast left thy first 
love." Thou hast lost thy tenderness of 
conscience, thy affectionate zeal, thy per- 
severing diligence. And has not this Sa- 
viour somewhat against thee, young con- 



107 



vert — and art thou not a partaker in the 
sin of grieving the Spirit ? Hast thou not 
left thy first love 1 The ardour of thy 
first love for himself for his people, his 
service, his word, and his ordinances ? 
Do not thy closet, thy Bible, and thy 
pious brethren and companions testify 
against thee 7 And yet, though thou hast 
well nigh forgotten thy Saviour, he still re- 
members thee. He remembers M the love 
of thine espousals," and he is ready to 
restore thee to his favour. " Remember, 
therefore, from whence thou art fallen, 
and repent and do thy first works." Re- 
gain thy first faith, exercise thy first re- 
pentance, be as faithful, as humble, as 
zealous, as earnest for the salvation of 
others as at first, and then mayest thou 
confidently hope to be restored to thy first 
success in labour, and recover thy lost 

joys- 
Have I told you, says the Saviour to 

his desponding church, that my purposes 



108 



of grace are all accomplished ? and are 
the operations of my Spirit so fitful and 
transient, that they cannot abide with you ? 
Do I cherish any secret decree which 
should hinder you from labouring in hope ? 
or have the displays of my love and power 
among you been adapted to discourage 
and fill you with despondency? Then 
prove me, disciple; let my fidelity to my 
promises, and my love, be brought to a 
test. " Bring ye all the tithes into the 
store-house." Do your whole duty ; dis- 
charge your covenant obligations ; be as 
faithful in conversation, as importunate in 
prayer, as exemplary in your life, as strong 
in your faith, as your duty demands : and 
prove me herewith," whether the Sun of 
Righteousness shall decline, and the good 
work among you cease?' 

And are not the foregoing considera- 
tions suited to rebuke the too common in- 
firmity of the church in prescribing limits 
to the operations of grace ; of hedging 



109 



up, as it were, the ways of the Saviour 
by obstacles of their own devising ! 
And why should "the hope of Israel and 
the Saviour thereof" be regarded as a 
* stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring 
man that turneth aside for the night,"* in- 
stead of abiding in the gift of a continued 
blessing] And why should w T ondering 
Christians ascend to heaven for causes 
of the ceasing of a w 7 ork of grace, or de- 
scend into the deep, w T hen they are nigh 
them, and might easily be understood? 
If the fire seem to decline and threaten to 
go out, let not the troubled householder go 
to his books of philosophy for instruction 
on the theory of combustion, while, in the 
meantime, he is withholding the requisite 
fuel. Nor let any friend of Zion's pros- 
perity be too hasty in ascribing the stinted 
measure of her graces to the sovereignty 
of God, so long as he is ceasing to use the 
means of obtaining more. The fire may 

* Jer. xiv. 8. 
K 



110 



refuse to burn, it is true, no matter what 
the supply of fuel, or however great the 
care of keeping it alive ; and so may a 
work of grace decline, and ultimately 
cease, let the Nehemiahs of the church 
do what they please to arrest it; but then 
is the time to ascribe it to the hinderance 
of the Lord, and not till then, when they 
have done all that his word prescribes as 
their duty in carrying it forward. 

The suggestions which have been made, 
moreover, should serve to commend the 
Apostle's excellent caution to the Corin- 
thians, to "judge nothing before the time."* 
Not to be hasty or premature either in 
adopting our opinions, or of making them 
known ; a monition to which we may well 
take heed, in pronouncing on a w r ork of 
grace, w T hether upon its origin, its pro- 
gress, or its termination. Much that we 
see in such a season is shrouded in im- 
penetrable mystery ; for while there are 

* 1 Cor. iv. 5. 



Ill 



some attributes and results of such a work, 
which are manifest to all, and as insepara- 
ble from it, as are light and heat from the 
sun, and w r hich we need not fear to pro- 
claim, yet it is not so with all. The way by 
which the Lord is pleased to operate, is not 
unfrequently as secret, as it is sovereign, 
and the instrument is as hidden as the 
agent: and we can only admire, and adore, 
and be still, and know that it is God # 
" Many lepers were in Israel in the time 
of Eliseus, the prophet, and none of them 
were cleansed, saving Naaman, the Sy- 
rian."* Of the two that are grinding at a 
mill, or toiling in the same field, the one 
is often taken, and the other left. The 
young man not far from the kingdom, ap- 
proaches no nearer, and is only an almost 
Christian still; while the kingdom itself 
has seemed to suffer violence, and to be 
taken by force of some who had ceased 
almost to be objects of hope. 



* Luke iv. 27. 



112 



Nor let the church judge before the 
time, in regard to any omens of evil, or 
imagine the Lord to be withdrawn, be- 
cause, like desponding Israel, " they see 
not the signs."* The whirlwind, and 
earthquake, and fire, by which the Spirit 
made himself known in the commence- 
ment of the work, may have passed by, yet 
the power of God may remain in the soft 
and subdued voice. But while many are 
looking for those more imposing demon- 
strations, such as were seen in the mul- 
tiplied convocations, the crowded assem- 
bly, the increasing throng of inquirers, 
they may neglect to search for those silent, 
and not less powerful operations, in which 
the Spirit may be still carrying the work 
forward. 

Nor should any be too ready to mag- 
nify the incidental evils, which evince the 
infirmity of the agents in such a work as 



1 Kings xix, 11—13. 



113 



has been described; lend a partial ear to 
disparaging rumours, or seem to delight 
in hearing of the relapse of this or that 
professed convert, as tending to bring dis- 
honour upon the revival, and render men 
incredulous. It makes the case of the 
unbeliever no better, should their predic- 
tions of apostasy, and of the drawing back 
of professed converts, be all fulfilled. But 
that the net when cast at such seasons, 
gathers more to be " cast away" than at 
others, is not sustained by fact. " In 
looking back upon the revivals of ten or 
fifteen years, with which I have been ac- 
quainted and personally concerned," says 
the Rev. Asahel Nettleton, (whose labours 
for a time were blessed, perhaps, without 
a parallel in this country) "and comparing 
the whole number admitted to the church 
at these seasons, with those who came in 
at other times, when there was no gene- 
ral revival, I think the former outshine the 
latter. I do believe," he adds, " that the 
k2 



114 



number of excommunications from the 
latter are more than double the former." 

In revolving such a question as we have 
been considering, let those who are enjoy- 
ing the blessings of reviving grace, ponder 
well the consequences, should such a work 
cease. Ah ! had it never been begun 
among them, what, to many now rejoicing 
in hope, had been the consequences then 1 
And should the Spirit be withdrawn, what 
dreadful desolation must inevitably follow? 
God forbid that we should here commit 
the sin of limiting the Almighty, which we 
have rebuked in others, by asserting that 
the salvation of a people is suspended upon 
a revival of religion. God can fertilize 
his Zion with the dew, as well as with the 
shower ; can gather in his people one by 
one, as well as by scores. And yet with- 
out seeking first to know what is his se- 
cret purpose concerning the manner of 
his working, the church may be admon- 



115 



ished by the emblem of the prophet Elisha. 
They may hope for results at such a sea- 
son, when by the more abundant zeal 
and faith and labours of the church the 
ground is "smitten six times/' than at 
others, when they smite but thrice. In 
a word, would they have great things, 
they must expect great things, and must 
labour for them, and then, according to 
the promise of the Saviour, their blessing 
will be great or small, according to their 
faith. 

But whatsoever the heart deviseth or 
the hand findeth to do, for the salvation 
of others, let it be done with all diligence, 
for the night cometh, when the toils of his 
militant state must cease. A little while, 
and these scenes of labour and conflict 
will be ended. The darkness that now 
hangs over the grave will have been pene- 
trated, and if faithful unto death, we shall 
have become inhabitants of that world of 



116 



light and blessedness, where faith and 
hope shall end in fruition. 

Where on a green and flowery mount, 

Our weary souls shall sit, 
And with transporting* joys recount 

The labours of our feet. 

There to fulfil his sweet commands, 

Our speedy feet shall move ; 
No sin shall clog our winged zeal, 

Or cool our burning love. 

And while our faith enjoys this sight, 

We long to leave our clay ; 
And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord, 

To bear our souls away. 



11? 



APPENDIX. 

A. 

I have remarked that the appointment 
of a day of fasting and prayer, to be ob- 
served by the Presbytery at New Bruns- 
wick, was made at their semi-annual 
meeting, held in the village of Bound- 
brook. It is worthy of particular notice, 
that not long after the descent of the Spi- 
rit upon the former place, there were indi- 
cations of his special presence in the latter. 
But soon the Lord appeared in this con- 
gregation, in no less glory and greatness 
than had been witnessed among ourselves. 
The pastor who had been lending his as- 
sistance in gathering the harvest in New 
Brunswick, was called to thrust in the 
sickle at home. Though this visit of the 
Spirit was at that season of the year 
when the labours of his people were most 
severe and engrossing, yet these did not 



118 



prevent them from giving due attention to 
the paramount interests of the soul. The 
general characteristics of the work in 
this congregation, the means employed, 
and the results, were similar to those 
which have been described in the " Out- 
line." In a reply to a letter of inquiry on 
this interesting subject, the pastor ob- 
serves — " The first apparent seriousness 
in our congregation, was about the 10th 
of June. A number of our people had 
visited New Brunswick, and had there 
received impressions which resulted in 
their hopeful conversion. But the work 
may be said to have commenced with us 
in an especial manner, about the 20th of 
the month, when the Presbytery met for 
fasting and prayer in that city, agreeably 
to their appointment at their meeting in 
April. I urged my people to go and at- 
tend the meetings that were in progress 
among yours. On the day of humiliation 
numbers were impressed. In the eve- 



119 



ning of that day, I lectured, and the word 
was received with very great interest. 
From this time the work advanced w 7 ith 
increasing power. On the 6th, 7th and 
8th days of July, we had a protracted 
meeting, which was attended by very 
large assemblies, and which appeared to 
be signally blessed. During the months 
of July and August, in addition to the ser- 
vices of the Sabbath, I lectured to some 
part of the congregation every evening in 
the week ; and, although it was in a very 
busy season of the year, yet our places of 
worship were thronged. Our farmers 
could work hard all day, and when eve- 
ning came, could repair to the house of 
God with delight. Their spiritual inter- 
ests w r ere so absorbing and their feelings 
so much aroused, that they seemed to be 
incapable of bodily fatigue. None mani- 
fested heaviness, or seemed to feel it. 
Oh ! these were days of rejoicing, both in 
heaven as well as on earth; which I love 



120 



to review, as well as to pray and hope for 
their recurrence. 

" At our communion on the first Sabbath 
in September, we admitted on the profes- 
sion of their faith, 102. Of this number, 
37 were publicly baptized. On the first 
Sabbath in December we admitted 17 
more, seven of whom received the ordi- 
nance of baptism. The whole number 
gathered into the church as the fruits of 
this spiritual harvest were 125. Our 
meetings were continued through the au- 
tumn, and three evenings of the week 
during the winter. The influence of such 
a visit of the Spirit was exceedingly- 
happy upon the church, in reviving their 
graces, quickening them in the path of 
obedience, and in making them more 
devout and watchful and heavenly mind- 
ed. It was happy in its effect upon 
many households, in turning " the hearts 
of the fathers to their children, and 
the hearts of children to their fathers;" 



121 



in reclaiming the wicked, and in promot- 
ing order, sobriety and every good cause. 
But the full results of such a visit of mer- 
cy to our congregation, will never be 
known until the joyous scenes, in which 
you and I have been such happy co-work- 
ers, shall be reviewed, and the whole 
truth revealed by the light of eternity." 

I would only add, that the cloud of 
heavenly influence did not rest here, but 
continued moving and expanding, till 
many of the adjacent villages enjoyed a 
time of refreshing. To the churches of 
Somerville, of Plainfield and Piscataway 
in particular, the accessions were great. 



L 



122 



Bo 



The question has been frequently ask- 
ed, whether there was any " perceptible 
connexion" between the religious state 
of New Brunswick in 1837, and the ex- 
traordinary events which preceded, by 
which the people had been greatly af- 
fected. Whether the severe visit of cho- 
lera in 1832, and the tremendous tornado 
which did so much mischief in 1835, did 
not tend to prepare the inhabitants, by 
generating a sort of sensibility to fear, or 
a peculiar susceptibility of impression 
from what is suited to alarm, so as to ena- 
ble us to account for the revival, without 
being obliged to resort for explanation to 
supernatural causes. And how far these 
events were adapted to terrify and cause 
the strongest emotions will be attested by 



123 



thousands, who retain them in fresh re- 
membrance. They are written indelibly 
upon their memory, nor do they need any 
other record to preserve them from obliv- 
ion. Yes, it was a period in the history 
of New Brunswick not soon to be forgot- 
ten, when in 1832 the angel of destruction 
seemed to stand between heaven and 
earth, with a sword in his hand stretched 
out over that city, and when so many 
hearts quailed for fear of impending death 
which then menaced them, in the form of 
an awful and most mysterious pestilence. 
That was a reign of terror in this place, 
when you could reciprocate the salutations 
of the morning with a neighbour in the 
market place, and see his hearse pass by 
in the twilight of the evening. Here w T as an 
enemy of our life so new and uncontrolla- 
ble, that we soon ceased to speculate 
about second causes, but our quickened 
conscience led us backward to the first. 
Thus we came together in the solemn as- 



124 



sembly ; made confession of our sins, and 
recorded our vows; but as to the moral 
results, these were such as in most cases 
have been found to follow those excite* 
ments which are occasioned by fear. 

" As from the wing" the sky no scar retains* 
The parted wave no furrow from the keel, 55 

so transient were the impressions on 
many hearts of water, caused by a nation- 
al judgment in which this usually healthful 
city was severely a sufferer. While 
death appeared to be so near and so inevi- 
table, many bowed the knee in private ; 
repaired to the house of prayer; and 
paid a formal respect to holy things, 
which they were not wont to do before. 
But as the special object of alarm was 
withdrawn, this " sorrow of the world " 
subsided. When Pharoah saw that there 
was respite, he hardened his heart. The 
worldling returned to his business with all 
his former idolatry. The luxurious and 
intemperate went back to their cups and 
excess. The profane swearer and Sab- 



125 



bath-breaker became equally reckless of 
their sins and their danger : and it hap- 
pened unto these, so lately trembling 
transgressors, according to the true pro- 
verb. " the sow that was washed returned 
to her wallowing in the mire.-' 

The visitation of 1835, though of a very 
different character, was not less monitory 
in itself, nor more fruitful in its moral re- 
sults. To attempt an adequate descrip- 
tion of the scene which was then exhi- 
bited, or of the feelings produced in those 
who were present to witness it, is utterly 
vain. None but those who saw it, can 
conceive the terror of that moment; 
when the portentous cloud, freighted with 
its deadly missiles, gleaned and accumu- 
lated in its destructive course, paused as 
it approached, as if to gather strength for 
the onset which it was about to make 
upon our city. Xext the tumult which 
followed, the mingled sounds of the roar- 
ing element, the crash of our dwellings 
l 2 



126 



and the shrieks of their terrified inmates. 
And then the appalling prospect which 
met the eye, when we first ventured to 
direct it towards the path of the destroyer, 
and saw the dreadful work accomplished 
in his rapid transition. What heaps of 
ruin ! What utter devastation of the 
works of taste, and skill, and convenience, 
and necessity ! How many were bereft 
of a habitation in a moment, and the sa- 
vings of many years borne away on the 
wings of the whirlwind ! And what must 
be the sacrifice of life ! Surely, we thought, 
that beneath such wide-spread ruin, there 
must be found scores of the mangled and 
dying and dead. And how many now 
began, like the mother of Sisera, to look 
out at the door or the window, or to 
search the lanes and the streets for an 
absent child or a husband, a wife or some 
member of the household ; while imagi- 
nation was bringing before the mind, his 
fractured limbs, his bloody visage, or his 



127 



lifeless body. And haw many bosoms 
were almost bursting with the swell of 
this anticipated anguish, during the pain- 
ful period of suspense which preceded 
a discovery of the truth. That such a 
prostration of our dwellings, and the 
whirling of their heaviest materials with 
tremendous violence through the city, 
should not have strewed the tempest's 
path with the corses of very many, seem- 
ed impossible : and our first inquiries were 
for the w r ounded and the dead. Nor had 
we been much disappointed, if the wait- 
ings of mourners, as we passed along, 
had furnished a parallel to the work of 
the angel in Egypt, who, in going through 
the land in a single night, left one dead in 
each habitation. But, while such wrath 
as this was expected and deserved, the 
Lord remembered mercy. While one 
hand was " lifted up " to show how little 
he valued our substance, the other was 
extended to convince us how much he 



128 



regarded our lives. Among the notices of 
this impressive event, which were made at 
the time and which have been preserved, 
I find the following, which, I am per- 
suaded, a portion of those for whom this 
sketch is made will be pleased to possess, 
in some accessible place and convenient 
form. It was written by an eye witness 
of the desolation, immediately after its 
occurrence. The memorable day of this 
visitation, was Friday, the 19th of June, 
when, in the words of the writer, " about 
5 o'clock P. M., a tornado swept through 
the city from the western suburbs and 
down to the river, and in its resistless 
course destroying a vast amount of pro- 
perty, to which, we regret to say, must be 
added a number of lives. It was first seen 
approaching from the west ; and from 
the clouds of dust, shingles, &c, that rose 
in the air, was supposed by the inhabi- 
tants of the lower and central parts of the 
city to proceed from a heavy fire, and 



129 



the alarm bells were rung; but the flying 
of roofs, rafters and trees, in every direc- 
tion, soon taught them that a hurricane 
was rushing with awful violence through 
the town, leaving a complete mass of 
ruins to mark its track. Where it first 
commenced we cannot correctly learn, 
but it is said in the vicinity or north of 
Trenton : and report says that many of 
the farm houses and barns northward of 
the turnpike, are blown down or other- 
wise injured. Having struck several 
houses a little distance from the town, it 
reached the hill, where it remained appa- 
rently fixed for a minute or two, present- 
ing the appearance of a pillar of fire, its 
base resting on the earth, and its top 
reaching a mass of black clouds. It then 
took an eastern course, threatening Alba- 
ny and Church streets, but suddenly 
changing its direction, swept across the 
town lot towards the dwellings in that 
vicinity, tearing the roofs off of some, 
making literal wrecks of the barns and 



130 



out-houses, and either uprooting or twist- 
ing off the largest trees, in some in- 
stances carrying the latter twenty or thir- 
ty paces. It then crossed to the build- 
ings at the head of Paterson, Liberty, 
Bayard and Schureman streets, unroofing 
one house and levelling another, burying 
beneath its falling timbers, one of our res- 
pectable citizens and his eldest son. Both 
were extricated a short time after, the son 
in a dying state, in which he lingered un- 
til 9 o'clock last night, w 7 hen death re- 
lieved him from his sufferings ; the father 
seriously, but, we believe, not dangerously 
hurt. A young lad about eight years of 
age was also killed near this spot, a rafter 
from the blacksmith's shop having struck 
him immediately above the eyes, and al- 
most severed his head. A female was 
found dead under a building in Schure- 
man street. The tornado now swept 
with increased force across George street, 
down Liberty, Schureman, and New 



131 



streets, crossing Nelson to Burnet street, 
a quarter of a mile in distance, down to 
the river, unroofing or tearing off the 
tops of the houses, and sweeping the lower 
doors and windows from their fastenings. 
Schureman and Liberty streets, from top 
to bottom, may be said to be a complete 
mass of ruins, as is likewise part of Bur- 
net street. 

" The loss to our citizens in the destruc- 
tion of buildings and other property, must 
be immense. Various estimates place it at 
from one hundred thousand to one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars ; and as upwards 
of one hundred and twenty dwellings, be- 
sides stores, storehouses, &c. are either 
greatly damaged or entirely ruined, we 
scarcely think the latter sum will exceed 
the amount of loss. 

" Since the above was written we have 
ascertained that the tornado first com- 
menced on the Millstone, within a few 
miles of Griggstow 7 n, a gentleman near 



132 



the spot having his attention attracted to 
two dark masses of clouds, rapidly ap- 
proaching each other, and which, furious- 
ly commingling, rushed to the earth. Sud- 
denly bounding again into the air, a lofty 
black column was left resting on the earth, 
surmounting which appeared a mass of 
clouds in the wildest commotion. For a 
minute or two the pillar seemed fixed to 
the spot, the next dashed to the south- 
east with inconceivable speed, though, as 
far as we can learn, doing but little dam- 
age until arrived in the vicinity of Middle- 
bush, where, gathering power, it prostra- 
ted the stoutest forest trees. It first struck 
some buildings between Middlebush and 
Six Mile Run, which were slightly injured, 
then passed on, unroofing a building in 
one place, or levelling it to the ground in 
another, prostrating fences and trees, 
spreading desolation and ruin on its way 
to our city. Just before its descent upon 
us, the column remained for some minutes, 



133 



observing a rapid rotatory motion, and 
carrying up in concentric circles, beams, 
boards and branches of trees, which it 
threw to a great height in the air, until 
they fell beyond the sphere of its influence, 
or retained in air, were forced with terri- 
ble violence either against or through the 
houses in the city, or swept before it 
across the river. Having made such parts 
of the city through which the tornado pass- 
ed a complete wreck, it crossed the river, 
and struck the woods, uprooting some of 
the largest trees, twisting off the body of 
others, and throwing several 40 and 50 
yards from the places were they stood. 
In one place it appears to have played for 
some time, in a circle of about 100 feet, 
tearing up the grass, and leaving the 
earth completely bare of any signs of ve- 
getation. It now changed its direction, 
taking again to the woods in a course 
about north east until near Piscataway- 
town, where its course was east. Here 

M 



134 



rushing with terrible violence it swept 
over the devoted village, leaving scarcely 
a house untouched, and strewing the road 
and adjacent fields with the ruins. Im- 
mediately after the tornado had passed, 
the village displayed a horrible scene ; 
the isolated situation of the houses and 
barns, presenting a fair mark to its ter- 
rible ravages. In some places we mark- 
ed whole orchards prostrate, and the 
trees carried over the road into the fields 
opposite. 

" Having gone through the village, it 
took a direct course for Amboy, slightly 
touching a house on the south-western 
edge of the town, and passed into the bay, 
throwing an immense body of water into 
the air, and striking, it is said, the south- 
erly point of Staten Island, when it was 
lost sight of. 

"No pen, or at least it would require a 
more able one than ours, can do justice 
to the passage of the tornado through 



135 



our town. It would seem as if the spirits 
of the air had gathered in the pride of 
their might, and in their wrath would 
sweep the besom of destruction over our 
devoted people, leaving naught but death 
and desolation to mark their track. None 
but an eye witness can conceive the awful 
scene: houses toppling and crashing to 
the ground, or completely riven, flying 
through the streets, and scattered in eve- 
ry direction — heavy beams and rafters 
driven with fearful impetus into and 
through the houses — women and chil- 
dren, frantic, screaming for aid — and 
men, who had been strangers to fear, w r ith 
blanched cheeks running in breathless 
haste to seek shelter from the impen- 
ding danger — while with a deep roar 
like that of a heavy, unremitted cannon- 
ade, or a vast building in one sheet of 
flame, the tornado sped upon its way, 
sucking up every thing within reach of 



136 



its horrible vortex. The intense noise 
which accompanied it, may be inferred 
from the fact, that many who had sought 
refuge in the lower apartments of the 
buildings partly destroyed, were unaware 
of their loss until the hurricane had pass- 
ed ; they heard nothing but its awful roar. 
Many of the escapes from death are won- 
derful; we have not time or space to re- 
count a tithe of them. Men who threw 
themselves upon the ground, were lifted 
up and thrown violently down ; while 
others, who were clinging to posts or 
other supports with the desperate strength 
which fear calls into action, were torn 
from them and dashed to the earth. One 
lad, 12 years old, was carried from his fa- 
ther's house at the head of New street, 
down to the wharf, a distance of half a 
mile, passing through a tree, the branches 
of which he attempted to grasp, with no 
other injury than a sprained wrist. Heavy 



137 



oak beams, 18 feet long, and pieces of 
roof 10 feet square and upward, were 
blown across the river, and fell into the 
woods, which were strewed with boards, 
window sashes, door panels, tile, shin- 
gles, bedding, wearing apparel, and glass. 
Boards, shingles, &c, are said to have 
fallen on Staten Island. The trees are 
broken, shivered and uprooted on the op- 
posite side for a thousand yards along its 
banks, and the vegetation is scathed as 
if a flame had been quickly passed over it. 
The loss is great, though not so heavy 
as at first supposed; 8100,000, it is said, 
will cover the damages." 

The following notes, which were made 
at the time by a well-known gentleman 
of science, are subjoined as worthy of 
constituting a part of the record of this 
distressing phenomenon. 

* At about half past five o'clock, while 
on board the steamboat Napoleon, which 
m 2 



138 



was then six or seven- miles from New 
Brunswick, my attention was called to a 
singular appearance in a north-westerly 
direction. A very dense and low cloud 
stretched itself along for some distance 
like a dark curtain, which, near the centre, 
was dipping towards the earth in the form 
of a funnel or inverted cone, and was gra- 
dually uniting with another cone, whose 
basis rested exactly on the surface. At 
one extremity of this dark cloud was a 
smaller one, having a flecculent appear- 
ance, which soon also became conical in 
its shape, but which did not descend to 
the earth. These cones seemed to have 
been formed by gyratory or whirling 
movements, produced by currents of w 7 ind 
passing in opposite directions, viz. from 
the north-west and south. In a few mi- 
nutes the well defined character of these 
united cones was changed, and there arose 
a column, spreading at the top, and which 



139 



had every appearance of the eruption of 
a volcano. A vast body of smoke, as it 
seemed, rose up and again descended, 
producing a sort of rolling, upward and 
downward movement. The opinion now 
became general that it proceeded from 
the burning of some large building, whioh 
it was thought had been caused by light- 
ning, a vivid flash or two of which had 
preceded the formation of the cones. 
This idea, however, was soon abandoned, 
for in a few minutes the dense column 
was dissipated, and we could distinctly 
observe the gyratory motion of wind, as 
was proved by the dust and fragments of 
timber which were carried upward in its 
course. Onward it swept, with incalcu- 
lable velocity, until another black and 
well defined cone was again formed, 
which remained stationary for a short 
time and then, as before, gave place to 
the eruptive appearance and gyratory 
movement before mentioned. These al- 



140 



ternations continued, although much less 
distinctly characterized, until the whole 
vanished from our view. On approach- 
ing New Brunswick, we witnessed the 
devastation which the tornado had oc- 
casioned ; but it was in the city alone 
that its mighty power was fully exhibited. 

"From the facts which I have collected, 
there can be no doubt that the cone above 
described, was formed about three miles 
nearly west of New Brunswick, and that 
it remained stationary, that is, revolving 
on its axis, for some minutes. But when 
the second movement occurred, a dense 
cloud overshadowed the city. Slight, but 
distinct explosions, as of the bluffing of 
sails, were heard from the column. The 
heat of the air became oppressive; vol- 
umes of smoke and even flames were 
thought to be issuing forth and rolling 
over in various directions. Under these 
circumstances the idea of an extensive 
and rapid conflagration, would naturally 



141 



be suggested. Immediately the alarm 
bells were rung, the firemen repaired to 
their engines; but while all eyes were di- 
rected to the black and terrible column 
which was approaching, apparently to- 
ward the head of Albany street, no one 
could fix upon the exact spot to which 
effort should be directed. This state of 
uncertainty, however, did not long con- 
tinue, for soon a tremendous rush of wind 
passed through the city, and in a moment 
the dense column which had been an ob- 
ject of so much wonder and dread, stood 
on the opposite bank of the river, as it 
were, rallying for another desolating 
march. 

" The force of the wind, in its passage 
through the city, it would be idle to cal- 
culate. Men were thrown down, build- 
ings of wood and brick w T ere unroofed 
and even completely demolished, large 
trees were torn up by the roots and scat- 
tered promiscuously in all directions. The 



142 



air was filled with dust and missiles of 
various kinds. The crash of the timbers 
was scarcely audible in consequence of 
the roaring of the tornado. Many of the 
inhabitants who had watched the appear- 
ance of the column, were apprised of the 
coming danger and fled to the cellars of 
their dwellings for safety, and, in several 
cases, where the doors of the buildings 
were firmly closed, they suffered little or 
no injury, though in the midst of destruc- 
tion. 

"Thus far the course of the tornado had 
been a little north of east, a direction 
which it pursued to the village of Piscata- 
way, about three miles distant, and which 
it almost totally destroyed; then inclining 
somewhat to the south, it held an easterly 
course, passing over Amboy and thence 
to the ocean. It terminated, as I have 
seen it stated, by a fall of ice or hail, and 
by a great commotion of the water. The 
fall of ice is said also to have character- 



143 

ized its commencement, but on this sub- 
ject I have not yet obtained authentic 
information. 

"I will at present add only a few words 
concerning the cause of this, at least in 
our latitude, very remarkable occurrence. 
The formation of the inverted cone or 
funnel, so often mentioned, was undoubt- 
edly produced by the currents of air from 
opposite directions. But whether these 
currents were caused by a vacuum arising 
from the electrical discharges from the 
cloud, or whether the supposed vacuum 
was the result of these currents, it is, per- 
haps, impossible to determine. But if this 
funnel may be compared to that of the 
tube which forms the water-spout — and it 
certainly bore a close resemblance to that 
phenomenon — we may suppose that there 
was a current established from the earth 
to the cloud. This upward movement is 
indeed indicated by the occurrences which 
succeeded, and by many facts which have 



144 



since been ascertained. Among these 
may be mentioned the unroofing of those 
houses into which the air rushed through 
the doors and windows, and the lodge- 
ment of these roofs nearly in front of the 
houses to which they belonged. This up- 
ward movement was distinctly visible at 
a distance, and it was this which gave 
the phenomenon the appearance of a vol- 
canic eruption. At the same time, also, 
there was a gyratory motion to which 
the destruction produced by the tornado 
is to be chiefly ascribed. This motion 
appeared to us on board the Napoleon? to 
succeed the upward movement just men- 
tioned and characterized the progress of 
the tornado until it passed from our view. 
This gyratory motion is also evident from 
the appearances which are presented 
every where in New Brunswick and its 
vicinity. According to my measurement, 
the track of the tornado through the city 
did not exceed three hundred yards, al- 
though the circle seems to have been 



145 

much larger where the cone was first 
formed, and, also, on the opposite side of 
the river, where the column is supposed 
again to have rested. Near the circum- 
ference of the supposed circles, w r as the 
line of the most destructive force of the 
wind. Several buildings in their centres, 
remain altogether uninjured. 

"I cannot subscribe to the opinion which 
has been advanced that the violence of 
the wind was produced by two currents 
making towards each other, and having 
at the same time an onward motion. If 
there was not a gyratory as well as an 
upward motion, I must discredit my eye- 
sight, and be blind to the appearances 
which are every where presented, both in 
this city and its vicinity. Having had a 
fine opportunity of witnessing the pheno- 
menon in its most interesting stages, and 
of studying its effects, it is perhaps more 
difficult for me to form a satisfactory 
theory on the subject, than it is for those 
who were less favourably situated. I 

N 



146 



shall therefore still continue the humble 
and frequently too much neglected busi- 
ness of collecting facts, in the hope that 
they may hereafter lead to views more 
worthy of notice. " 

As a suitable recognition of the mercy 
of God in our preservation, the mayor of 
the city recommended that a day of humili- 
ation and prayer be observed, in which the 
inhabitants- concurred with a becoming 
unanimity. The evidences of a special 
Providence were so marked in the present 
instance, that none who were accustomed 
to look for divine interposition in any case, 
could fail to see and acknowledge it in 
this. We do not call it a miraculous dis- 
play of mercy, and yet the circumstances^ 
by means of which the lives of many were 
protected, are marvellous. It was provi- 
dential that the immense cloudy column, 
so much resembling the smoke and cin- 
ders of a great conflagration, should have 
been mistaken. It served to rally in a place 
of safety, many who were at this time 



147 



occupied on the tops of houses or in those 
shops of slight construction, that, in a few 
minutes, would have crushed them in their 
ruins. How many lives were moreover 
preserved by the din of voices and en- 
gines, proceeding from the northern part 
of the city, as if it were an expedient of 
Providence, to decoy the people from the 
southern, which was so soon to be made 
" a ruinous heap." And again, that it did 
not occur in the night. That to an event 
so terrific by day, was not added the hor- 
ror of the gloom and peril of night, like 
that which occurred on the 11th of Au- 
gust, 1772, in the island of Java, " when 
every thing was destroyed for forty miles 
round, houses were demolished, plan- 
tations buried in the earth, fifteen hun- 
dred head of cattle were destroyed, and 
about two thousand human beings were 
in a moment, plunged into the gulf of 
eternity." Had the tornado been sent at 
night, instead of the day, how many 
would have slept their last sleep, and their 



148 



mangled remains been disinterred in the 
morning from the rubbish under which 
they had been overwhelmed ! Moreover, 
that it was not winter, when we are 
aware that such meteoric phenomena 
rarely occur ; but in a season of the year 
when from the mildness of the w 7 eather — 
the exposure of an open habitation could 
be endured with so little danger to the 
health, and comparatively little discom- 
fort. And yet, though the hand of God 
was so visible in this awful event, it is not 
known to the writer that a moral impres- 
sion was made upon a single person which 
proved permanent, and resulted in their re- 
form. While in these successive provi- 
dences was heard the voice of one crying 
in the ears of the impenitent, and which 
" made them tingle" — yet, in no instance 
of which we were apprized, did they prove 
spiritually beneficial : much less is there 
cause for supposing that in any sense, 
they were instrumental in " preparing the 
way of the Lord" in the revival of 1837. 




Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: May 2006 

PreservationTechnoIogies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



LIBRARY Of CONGRESS 



017 578 684 3 



